India’s ruling party, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), is projected to have lost two important provincial elections to the opposition Congress party and its allies, according to exit polls. This follows a poor performance in national elections.
Local media indicate that Congress has a strong lead in Haryana, marking the end of the BJP’s decade-long rule there. The opposition is also ahead in Jammu and Kashmir.
The elections were held in phases, concluding on Saturday, with vote counting scheduled for Tuesday. Results will be announced the same day. Exit polls, conducted by private firms, often struggle for accuracy in India’s diverse voting landscape.
Previously, exit polls predicted a major victory for Modi’s BJP in the general election in June, but the party fell short and had to rely on regional parties to form a coalition government. These two territories are the first to hold elections since the national elections.