‘Confident’: J&K and Haryana leaders’ reactions on exit polls 2024 | Who said what | India News

New Delhi: The Congress party is poised to replace the Bharatiya Janata Party in Haryana and appears to have an advantage in Jammu and Kashmir, according to exit poll results from the assembly elections released on Saturday evening. These polls offer a boost to the Opposition, particularly following a weaker mandate for the ruling NDA alliance in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Former Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda said that he confident that his party will form a government with a comfortable majority. In contrast, National Conference vice president Omar Abdullah dismissed the exit polls as “just time pass,” despite the favorable results for his party.

Hooda also said that the decision regarding the chief ministerial candidate will be made by the high command based on the opinions of the Congress MLAs. He made these comments after the polling concluded and several exit polls indicated a likely victory for Congress in Haryana.

‘BJP will emerge as largest party’

The former deputy chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir said that the BJP is is well in Kashmir. He indicated that discussions are ongoing with like-minded parties to strengthen the position. “Congress and NC may have secured these seats in the exit polls, but we believe the BJP will emerge as the largest party once the official results are announced. We are optimistic about winning more than 35 seats in Jammu province and additional seats from Kashmir. The BJP will be in a stronger position in Kashmir… Talks are in progress with like-minded parties,” Gupta said.

‘Just exit polls’

BJP general secretary and J&K in-charge Tarun Chugh said that these figures are merely “exit polls” and said that he is confident that the actual results will be different. “These are just exit polls. The results will be better than this. The BJP will form a government with a full majority in both Haryana and J&K. The people’s support is with us, and we will establish a double-engine government,” Chugh said. J&K BJP president Ravinder Raina also said that he is confident that the BJP will secure a huge majority in the upcoming government formation.

To form the government in the 90-member assembly, a majority of 46 seats is required.

Congress leader Tariq Anwar said that he is positive about the potential for a Congress alliance to secure seats and form a government. He said, “I am confident that the Congress-NC alliance will win more seats than currently projected.” Congress general secretary Ghulam Ahmad Mir supported the statement and he predicted that the alliance will secure over 55 seats.

‘Just time pass’

National Conference vice president Omar Abdullah, while acknowledging the favourable results for his party, referred to the exit polls as “just time pass.” He said, “I’m surprised that channels are focusing on exit polls, especially after the recent general elections debacle. I’m ignoring all the noise on channels, social media and WhatsApp, as the only figures that truly matter will be unveiled on October 8.”