Haryana and J&K election results; people's verdict that considered reality

The Haryana assembly elections show that the ability of result prediction scholars to measure people's minds has once again failed. All the exit polls had predicted the return of Congress in Haryana. Such were the indications in the first hour of counting of votes as well. However, the scene turned upside down and the BJP was seen jumping to power for the third time in a row. Perhaps even the BJP would not have expected such an achievement. The fact that the BJP was able to retain power in the 90-member Assembly without anyone's support is a big political victory in the present scenario. This victory should also be seen as a solution to the setback suffered in the Lok Sabha elections.

The INDIA alliance comprising the National Conference and the Congress is going to come to power as expected, after the first assembly elections that were held in Jammu and Kashmir after the constitutional amendment abrogating its special powers and status. National Conference had started trying to form a cabinet when the alliance won more than 50 seats. Though the Congress is a partner in the alliance, it is only a junior partner in terms of seat position. The fact that the Congress, which contested 32 seats, could not win even 10 seats exposes the party's fatigue. The PDP, which once dominated Kashmir politics with glory, also collapsed. Their victory was limited to four seats. The defeat of Iltija Mufti, who was the youngest member of the Mufti family, was the biggest setback.

Omar Abdullah's National Conference has the majority to rule alone in the 90-member Jammu and Kashmir Assembly. However, Omar Abdullah has made it clear that the new ministry will include all the parties that contested as an alliance. That is political decency. Though the BJP has made gains compared to the previous elections, it is still far from governing. All the BJP seats are from the Jammu region. The party has not even been able to peep into the Kashmir Valley. There were a lot of adverse situations for the BJP in Haryana. Ten years of rule had turned a good section of the people against the government. Unemployment, agrarian issues and changes in army recruitment were some of the issues that were enough to bring down the government. The Congress had succeeded in keeping the Jat community with them completely. However, the BJP countered this by keeping anti-Jat forces on their side.

Congress was ahead in terms of voting percentage but when it came to seats, the BJP had the upper hand. In Haryana in particular, neither any special wave nor any personality influence can be thought to have influenced the results. What is noteworthy is that Congress has not been able to make as much progress in this election as it thought. The Congress party leaders, who were dreaming of a spectacular comeback in Haryana, had to be disappointed. CPI(M) had contested one seat each in Haryana and Kashmir. In Kashmir, CPI(M)retained the seat through Mohammed Yousuf Tarigami but was trailing in Haryana. The highlight of this election is that Vinesh Phogat, who had to return after losing her gold medal at the Olympics, has brought laurels to Congress in Haryana.