SRINAGAR/JAMMU: With the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) looking set to make history in Jammu and Kashmir and Jharkhand, its senior leader and Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday exuded confidence that his party will form the next government in both states.
In his brief reaction to reporters outside Parliament, Rajnath Singh said, “We are quite sure that BJP will form government in both states of Jharkhand and J&K.”Remarks from the Union Minister came in the wake of encouraging early morning trends showing the BJP making comfortable leads in several seats in both J&K and Jharkhand.
As counting of votes polled in assembly elections began, the BJP appeared very close to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in J&K, while it looked all set to getting a clear majority in Jharkhand.BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra also called J&K results as a tectonic shift in the history of the state.
In what is being seen as a stunning show, BJP candidates surged ahead in 21 of the 74 constituencies where counting trends were available. The PDP was ahead of others in 31 places till the results last came.The ruling National Conference fared badly, its candidates taking the lead in just 15 of the 87 constituencies. Its estranged ally, the Congress, was set for a rout. It was ahead in only six seats.
Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office Jitendra Singh said: “This will be a turning point for BJP and for Jammu and Kashmir politics.”The BJP led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi had campaigned vigorously in Jammu and Kashmir with a pledge to win 44 seats — and assume power on its own for the first time.
A total of 48.29 lakh votes are to be counted.Most exit polls have predicted a hung assembly in Jammu and Kashmir, the country’s only Muslim-majority state.
Among those on the winning track were PDP leader and former chief minister Saeed (Anantnag), Chief Minister Omar Abdullah (Sonawar) and Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand (Chhamb).