As counting progressed in J&K and Jharkhand, it was clear that the former would have a hung house even as the BJP seems headed for a clear majority in the latter.
The election conducted in five-phases in the two states saw 66 per cent voting with authorities making massive security arrangements to prevent any attempts by militants or Maoists to disrupt the polls.
- PDP+BJP = 56
- PDP+CONG = 44
Jammu and Kashmir
PDP = 31
BJP = 25
Congress =13
NC = 12
Jharkhand
Others = 20
BJP =39
JMM+ = 7
CONG+ = 7
Chief Minister Hemant Soren and ex chief ministers Arjun Munda, Madhu Koda and Babulal Marandi are among the total 1,136 candidates, including 111 women in fray for a win in the state. This election will give the state, which has been dogged by political uncertainty since its birth its tenth government in 14 years. In Jammu and Kashmir, where polling was held for 87 seats, the turnout was the highest after 1987 despite boycott calls by separatists and militants.
The militancy-hit state has seen a quadrangular fight among ruling National Conference, main opposition PDP, BJP and Congress, which parted ways with NC ahead of the polls. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who led NC’s bid to retain power, and Opposition PDP’s chief ministerial candidate Mufti Mohammad Sayeed are among the 821 candidates to the 87-member House.
