Election Results 2024 Live: Congress hails J&K assembly results, alleges 'made to lose' in Haryana

Congress has said that the party has not lost Haryana assembly elections but has been deliberately made to lose.

Speaking at a press conference, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said that writing on the wall was clear but said “there are people who experts replacing walls”.

“They just replace the walls. In this case, machines,” said Ramesh in a video shared by ANI.

Ramesh further said that Congress is collecting all the complaints regarding counting of votes and will approach the Election Commission either tomorrow or the day after tomorrow.

“As far as the Haryana results are concerned, our first priority is to collate and consolidate all the complaints that have come from candidates from the three districts today. There will be other complaints and we hope to submit this to the Election Commission tomorrow evening or the day after. That is our immediate priority,” said Ramesh.

#WATCH | Delhi: Congress MP Jairam Ramesh says, "...Congress has been made to lose in Haryana, Congress has not lost." pic.twitter.com/swt0DiZcZW

— ANI (@ANI) October 8, 2024

Following the defeat in Haryana assembly election results, Congress leader Kumari Sailja has urged the party high command to identify those responsible for such results.

“High command should work out plan to help revive party in Haryana, identify those responsible for such results It will not be business as usual, Cong should identify those who negated efforts to bring party to power after 10 years,” said Sailja, as per PTI.

Sailja further dubbed the results as disappointing and said that party high command should assess reasons behind the results.

As per the latest tally with CNN-News 18, the BJP is ahead on 49 seats and the Congress on 36 in 90-member Haryana assembly.

J&K BJP chief Ravinder Raina has lost the Nowshera seat to NC candidate Surinder Choudhary.

In posts on X, Raina conceded defeat but hailed the performance of BJP in J&K.

As per the latest tally on CNN-News 18, the NC-Congress combine is set to form the government with 48 MLAs in J&K and the BJP stands second with 29.

After winning from Budgam, NC leader Omar Abdullah has won from Ganderbal seat as well.

NC chief Farooq Abdullah has already pitched Omar as the next CM of J&K.

NC has won the J&K election in alliance with the Congress.

As per the latest tally with the CNN-News 18, the NC-Congress combine has 48 of 90 seats.

The BJP’s imminent victory in the Haryana elections shows the Congress’ plan to divide society has failed, Union minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said on Tuesday.

Suggesting that Rahul Gandhi’s fake concern for the people was exposed, Chouhan said the poll mandate reflects the welfare initiatives undertaken by the Centre for farmers and various other sections under PM Modi’s leadership.

The poll results in the Jammu region of J & K are on the expected lines, the senior BJP leader said.

The Aam Aadmi Party registered its first victory in assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday when its candidate Mehraj Malik defeated his nearest rival from the BJP in Doda constituency by a margin of over 4,538 votes.

Malik, a District Development Council (DDC) member, polled 23,228 votes against BJP’s Gajay Singh Rana’s 18,690 votes.

National Conference leader and former minister Khalid Najib Suharwardy and DPAP leader Abdul Majid Wani got 13,334 and 10,027 votes, respectively. Congress candidate Sheikh Riaz Ahmad was pushed to the fifth place having secured 4,170 votes.

Malik unsuccessfully contested Lok Sabha elections from Udhampur constituency early this year.

AAP had fielded seven candidates out of 90 assembly segments.

The party, which is in power in Delhi and Punjab, was granted national party status in September last year. It also has MLAs in Gujarat and Goa.

The BJP has won 22 seats in Jammu and Kashmir and was leading at seven others, according to the Election Commission data. The party trails the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference, which has won 35 seats and is leading at six others to emerge as the single-largest party in the Union Territory, which went to the polls in three phases in September-October after a gap of 10 years.

But in terms of vote share, the BJP has surpassed the NC, the regional powerhouse for decades, polling 25.68 per cent votes against 23.38 per cent by its rival.

In Haryana, the BJP has polled over 40 per cent votes, taking a lead over the Congress, which has polled 39 per cent of the votes, according to the latest update on the Election Commission’s website.

In terms of seats, the BJP has won six seats and is leading on 44 others. The Congress has won 11 seats and is ahead of 23 others.

Ecstacy turned into agony for the Congress on Tuesday as the celebratory mood at the AICC headquarters in the morning changed into a sombre environment by noon as the trends for the Haryana assembly elections came in showing that the party was headed for a shock defeat.

As counting began, early trends showed that the Congress seemed on track to score a big win in the Haryana polls, as predicted also by exit polls.

Party workers were seen bursting crackers and distributing ‘jalebis’ and ‘laddoos’ at the AICC headquarters at 24, Akbar Road, here. Drumbeats reverberated at the grand old party’s headquarters around 9AM when trends showed that it was racing ahead.

However, post 10 AM, as the trends showed the BJP clawing its way back into the contest, the headquarters bore a sombre look with the ‘dhols’ and sweets disappearing from the scene.

Congress leaders were seen giving media bytes at various places at the headquarters, arguing that the trends would change by 1 PM but it did not happen.

The Congress canteen was bustling as usual but an air of disappointment was writ large on the faces of party leaders and workers there.

Three independent candidates have so far registered victory in the Jammu and Kashmir assembly polls, while four others are leading in various constituencies.

In Inderwal, independent candidate Payare Lal Sharma defeated veteran leader Gulam Mohammad Saroori by a narrow margin of 643 votes.

Sharma polled 14,195 votes, while Saroori, who was also contesting as an independent candidate, received 13,552 votes.

In Bani, independent candidate Dr. Rameshwar Singh defeated BJP candidate and former MLA Jewan Lal by 2,048 votes. Singh secured 18,672 votes, while Lal polled 16,624 votes.

In the Surankote assembly segment, independent candidate and National Conference rebel Choudhary Mohammad Akram defeated Congress candidate Mohammad Shahnawaz with a margin of 8,851 votes.

Akram polled 34,201 votes.

Besides them, four independent candidates — Satesh Sharma from Chhamb, Muzaffar Iqbal Khan from Thanamandi, Khursheed Ahmed Sheikh from Langate, and Shabir Ahmed from Shopian — are leading in their constituencies.

Counting of votes is underway in Jammu and Kashmir.

People Conference president Sajad Gani Lone has won the Handwara assembly constituency. “I am thankful to the people of Handwara. There was a different wave all around but I am thankful to the people for this grand victory,” he said.

He ruled out any alliance with the National Conference, which looked set for a return to power in Jammu and Kashmir. Lone said, “I think there was an undercurrent, NC played its cards right…They also go help with the 3-year of misrule here.”

He said, “I think they [JKNC] will be able to form the government on their own…Our vote is for the Opposition, not to sit with anyone. We have contested against the NC, how can we go with them?”

Lone also targeted the Centre, saying, “We want the statehood to be restored and that Delhi stops experimenting.”

#WATCH | #HaryanaAssemblyElection2024 | Congress leader Aditya Surjewala declared winner from Kaithal Assembly constituency

He says, " This is the victory of the power of the youth. It is the victory of Kaithal. I thank all those who made this win possible." pic.twitter.com/xGw9nDGIEk

— ANI (@ANI) October 8, 2024

The Election Commission on Tuesday told Congress leader Jairam Ramesh that there was nothing on record to substantiate his “ill-founded allegation” of slowdown in updating of Haryana poll results.

Earlier in the day, the Congress had raised with the Election Commission the issue of an “unexplained slowdown” in updating of results of Haryana elections on the poll watchdog’s website and urged it to direct officials to update accurate figures so that “false news and malicious narratives” can be countered immediately.

In a letter to the Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners, Congress general secretary in-charge communications Ramesh said that over the last two hours between 9 and 11 am there has been an “unexplained slowdown” in updating of results on the ECI’s website.

In its response, the poll authority said counting of votes is being carried out as per Rule 60 of Conduct of Election Rules at the designated counting centres and by the designated authorities following statutory and regulatory regime.

With the National Conference-Congress alliance likely crossing the majority mark in the 90-member Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, former J&K Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah said his son Omar Abdullah, also a former CM, will be the next chief minister of the Union Territory.

Addressing the media in Srinagar, Farooq Abdullah said, “People have given their mandate, they have proven that they don’t accept the decision that was taken on August 5, 2019, [the abrogation of Article 370, ending the special status of the erstwhile state, and bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir to carve out Ladakh as a separate Union Territory]Omar Abdullah will be the chief minister.”

BJP: 39.90%

Congress: 39.41%

INLD: 4.28%

AAP: 1.77%

BSP: 1.71%

JNJP: 0.89%

Source: Election Commission

With the BJP racing ahead in Haryana as per the early trends, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said the imminent defeat of Congress is a testimony to the failed leadership of Rahul Gandhi.

Even Congressmen don’t consider Rahul Gandhi as their leader, said Yadav as the BJP looks comfortably placed, leading in 50 of the 90 assembly seats in Haryana, counting for which is underway.

“While campaigning in Haryana, I had said that Rahul Gandhi (Opposition leader in Lok Sabha) would fail for the third time. People know it well that his leadership is not liked even by Congressmen,” Yadav told PTI.

He said the Haryana poll outcome reflects the people’s trust in the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the development agenda of the double-engine government.

“People rejected Congress on the development issue and the language they used. The lotus (BJP symbol) will bloom for the third time in Haryana,” Yadav said.

He said the people of Haryana reacted positively to the slogan of the double-engine government under the leadership of PM Modi, Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, and Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini.

“I had experienced people’s enthusiasm and excitement during the poll campaign. Congress was living in an illusion, may God keep their illusion intact. The Congress is cut off from ground reality,” he added.

Independent candidate Chitra Sarwara has maintained a lead over senior BJP leader and former Haryana minister Anil Vij in the Ambala Cantt assembly constituency. Vij has won this six times. At the end of the six rounds of counting Sarwara was ahead with 20,443 votes against Vij’s 19,898.

A party hopper, Sarwara is a Congress rebel. She entered the fray after the Congress chose Parvinder Pal Pari as its candidate. Pari was trailing at the third position.

The Congress suspended Sarwara for six years over “anti-party activities”.

Sarwara was previously the Aam Aadmi Party’s Haryana vice president. Along with her father, Nirmal Singh, Sarwara joined the Congress in December 2023.

She began her political career in 2013, winning local civic polls to become an Independent corporator from Ambala Cantt. Later, she joined the Congress and also became its state spokesperson before switching loyalties to the AAP.

Sarwara contested the 2019 Haryana assembly election from the Ambala Cantt seat as an Independent, finishing runner-up to Vij with 44,406 votes against the BJP leader’s 64,571.

Congress candidate Aftab Ahmed won the Nuh assembly seat in Haryana on Tuesday, defeating his nearest rival and Indian National Lok Dal nominee Tahir Hussain. according to the Election Commission.

Ahmed, who was the outgoing MLA from Nuh, defeated Hussain by a margin of 46,963 votes.

The BJP’s Sanjay Singh was at the third spot.

Counting of votes polled in the October 5 assembly elections in Haryana began at 8 am on Tuesday.

With polls trends indicating a win for the NC-Cong alliance, senior CPI(M) leader M Y Tarigami on Tuesday said the writing is on the wall for the BJP that the vote of the people is against the Central government and its policies.

Tarigami’s party is part of the NC-Congress alliance.

“The writing is on the wall and the vote of the people is against the BJP government and its policies,” he told PTI Videos.

Tarigami said there has been a bureaucratic and LG rule in J-K since 2018 with no representation of the people.

“This rule has only increased difficulties. With a new secular government in place, the people of J-K will surely heave a sigh of relief,” he added.

He said there is happiness all round in J-K as the elections were conducted after long and the tends were encouraging as well.

Jammu and Kashmir Congress chief Tariq Karra on Tuesday secured an unassailable lead over National Conference rebel Irfan Shah in Central Shalteng assembly segment, according to the Election Commission website.

At the end of the 13th round of counting, Karra had secured 18,892 votes as against Shah’s 4,523 votes, a lead of 14,369 votes.

The NC and the Congress had entered into a pre-poll alliance in Jammu and Kashmir and there was a friendly contest between the two in five seats. Some leaders from the two parties, including Shah, had rebelled against their decision to join hands and contested the polls as Independents.

With poll trends indicating a win for the NC-Cong alliance, senior CPI(M) leader M Y Tarigami on Tuesday said the writing is on the wall for the BJP that the vote of the people is against the Central government and its policies.

Tarigami’s party is part of the NC-Congress alliance.

“The writing is on the wall and the vote of the people is against the BJP government and its policies,” he told PTI Videos.

Tarigami said there has been a bureaucratic and LG rule in J-K since 2018 with no representation of the people.

“This rule has only increased difficulties. With a new secular government in place, the people of J-K will surely heave a sigh of relief,” he added.

He said there is happiness all round in J-K as the elections were conducted after long and the tends were encouraging as well.

“It seems the people have taken a considered decision and voted against the rule that was here in the last few years and its policies. I hope that the secular parties are on their way to form the government,” he said.

On the BJP saying that perhaps it was not the right time for the Lotus to bloom in Kashmir, the CPI(M) leader said, “I think it never will, but what is the problem in waiting”.

To a question as to whether PDP president Mehbooba Mufti will be a part of the NC-Congress alliance for government formation, Tarigami expressed hope that the secular and non-BJP parties will come together.

“There is a demand from within (PDP) and their vision is also on the same lines that there should be a secular alternative. So, the PDP has a role in that,” he added.

Asked about J-K LG nominating five MLAs to the assembly, Tarigami said it is “totally undemocratic”.

“If the nominations are necessary, then the recommendations of the cabinet and the assembly are very important. The LG will say these are LG’s nominations, but he is un-elected. This should be done on the recommendations of the elected government. But, if it is not, then it is backdoor,” he said.

#WATCH | JKNC workers sing and celebrate in Srinagar as the party's alliance with Congress leads in the #JammuKashmirElections2024.

As per the latest EC data, JKNC has won 2 seats and is leading on 41 so far while Congress is leading on 7 seats. pic.twitter.com/iBwisK977J

— ANI (@ANI) October 8, 2024

Congress on Tuesday alleged that there was a slowing down in uploading trends for the Haryana polls on the Election Commission website.

The opposition party also asked whether the BJP is trying to build pressure on the administration by sharing “outdated” and “misleading” trends.

In a post on X, Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said, “Like the Lok Sabha elections, in Haryana we are again witnessing slowing down of uploading up-to-date trends on the ECI website.” “Is the BJP trying to build pressure on administration by sharing outdated and misleading trends @ECISVEEP?” Ramesh said.

Latest trends uploaded by the Election Commission showed that the BJP was ahead in 49 seats while the Congress in 35.

The majority mark for the 90-member assembly is 46.

#JammuKashmirAssemblyElection | J&K People Conference president Sajad Gani Lone leading from Handwara constituency, by a margin of 964 votes, after round 5/12 of counting as per latest EC data. pic.twitter.com/sJcYpHg3eJ

— ANI (@ANI) October 8, 2024

The ruling BJP has crossed the majority mark in the Haryana assembly and was leading on 49 seats, while the Congress was ahead on 35, according to the latest trends available on the Election Commission website.

Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini and Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda were ahead in their seats. However, INLD leader Abhay Singh Chautala and JJP’s Dushyant Chautala were trailing from their seats.

Congress’ Vinesh Phogat was trailing from the Julana seat in Jind district where BJP’s Yogesh Kumar was ahead by 3,641 votes.

The two parties have been engaged in a sea-saw battle in the state after the counting of votes began at 8 am. The early trends available on TV channels showed the Congress ahead of the BJP, but the ruling made rapid strides later.

According to EC trends available at 10.55 am, the BJP was leading in 49 seats and the Congress on 35.

Independents were leading on four seats while INLD and BSP were ahead on one seat each. The Aam Aadmi Party is yet to get off the mark.

Chief Minister Saini, who is contesting from Ladwa in Kurukshetra, was ahead by a margin of 3,070 votes over his Congress rival and sitting MLA Mewa Singh.

Congress leader Hooda, who is seeking a reelection from Garhi Sampla-Kiloi, was leading by a margin of 22,182 over the BJP’s Manju Hooda.

Indian National Lok Dal leader Abhay Singh Chautala was trailing the Congress’ Bharat Singh Beniwal by a margin of 4,999 votes. However, Abhay’s son and INLD candidate Arjun Chautala was leading from the Rania seat over his grand uncle and Independent candidate Ranjit Chautala by a margin of 4,997 votes.

From the Uchana Kalan seat, Congress’ Brijendra Singh was leading over his nearest BJP rival Devinder Attri by a margin of 3,177 votes, while sitting MLA and JJP leader Dushyant Chautala was trailing.

Among the Independents, Savitri Jindal, mother of BJP MP from Kurukshetra Naveen Jindal, was leading from Hisar seat over her nearest rival Ram Niwas Rara of the Congress.

From Ambala Cantt, senior BJP leader and former Minister Anil Vij was trailing to Independent candidate Chitra Sarwara by a margin of 1,199 votes.

While the BJP is looking to ride to power for a third consecutive term, the Congress is eyeing a comeback in Haryana after 10 years.