Assembly polls: Congress takes early lead in Haryana, BJP ahead in Jammu and Kashmir

As per early trends, the Congress is ahead in 39 seats in Haryana while BJP is ahead in 20. Other parties are leading in 2.

The majority target in Haryana is 46 in the 90-seat Assembly.

In Jammu and Kashmir, Congress is ahead in 21 seats Bharatiya Janata Party. is leading in 19.

In the Himalayan UT, the political fate of 873 candidates, including 43 women, will be out on Tuesday.

The counting exercise began at 8 am with postal ballots followed by the counting of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), officials told UNI.

This is the first time the Assembly poll was held in Jammu and Kashmir since the Indian government scrapped Article 370 in 2019.

Security has been heightened in the UT for the counting of votes.

Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) J&K, Pandurang K Pole told UNI that comprehensive security arrangements have been made for the counting and three-tier security cover is in place around counting centres.

Polling was held in the Himalayan UT in three phases.

In  Haryana, the election was held on October 5.

Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, former Chief Minister Bhupendra Singh Hooda, former Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala, and former international wrestler Vinesh Phogat are some of the key candidates who political future will be decided on Tuesday.

Apart from the BJP and the Congress,  the Jannayak Janta Party-Azad Samaj Party alliance, the Indian National Lok Dal-Bahujan Samaj Party alliance, and the Aam Aadmi Party are the other political outfits battling to win seats in the north Indian state.