Exit Poll for J&K: NC+ likely to win 40-45 seats while BJP is expected to secure 27 to 32 seats

•BJP retaining it’s stronghold in Jammu region as a frontrunner party

•PDP, which was the largest party in the 2014 elections, is likely to face a significant decline retaining only 6 to 13 seats

According to exit polls conducted by India Today CVoter and other analysts, the Congress-National Conference (NC) alliance is projected to take the lead in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections. The NC+ coalition is likely to win between 40 to 45 seats out of the 90, positioning them as the frontrunners. The BJP is expected to secure 27 to 32 seats, with their stronghold remaining in the Jammu region, while their performance in the Kashmir Valley is projected to fall short. The PDP, which was the largest party in the 2014 elections, is likely to face a significant decline, predicted to win only between 6 and 13 seats. Meanwhile, independents and other smaller parties could take between 6 to 12 seats, contributing to a potentially fragmented Assembly.Omar Abdullah, leader of the NC, is seen as a leading contender for the Chief Minister position if the final results align with these projections. The counting of votes on October 8 will confirm whether this alliance secures a majority, with 46 seats needed to form the government.The BJP’s vote share is projected to be around 37%, with the Congress-NC alliance expected to secure around 44%. This paints a picture of a competitive yet one-sided race, particularly in the Kashmir Valley, where the Congress-NC bloc is poised to dominate.