As the counting of votes for the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections commenced on Tuesday, Jammu and Kashmir BJP chief Ravinder Raina expressed strong confidence in his party’s success. Ravinder Raina predicted that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) would emerge as the single largest party in the Union Territory, securing between 30 and 35 seats, enabling the formation of the government. The counting of votes for the 90 assembly seats began at 8 am, marking a critical moment for the political future of the region.
Ravinder Raina, who is contesting from the Nowshera Assembly constituency, performed a traditional pooja ahead of the vote counting and reiterated his optimism about the BJP’s prospects. “We are confident that the BJP and its allied parties will win with a full majority. We expect to secure 30-35 seats,” Ravinder Raina said. He attributed the party’s expected success to the work the BJP has done for the people of Jammu and Kashmir, emphasizing development and the party’s focus on key issues affecting the region.
“We have worked tirelessly for the people of Jammu and Kashmir, and we are hopeful of winning with a full majority,” he continued. “Independent candidates backed by the BJP will also achieve victory in these elections.”
Echoing Ravinder Raina’s confidence, former Deputy Chief Minister and senior BJP leader Kavinder Gupta also projected a clear victory for the party. Gupta highlighted the BJP’s efforts to steer Jammu and Kashmir away from the troubled past of separatism and terrorism, claiming that the party’s governance has shifted the region from “bullets to ballots” and from “terrorism to tourism.”
Gupta added, “The BJP has led the people of J&K on the path of development, freeing them from separatism, terrorism, corruption, and dynastic politics. The people have voted for BJP’s vision, and we are confident we will emerge as the largest party and form the government.”
Despite the BJP’s optimism, exit polls project a more competitive outcome. According to CVoter’s exit poll shown on India Today, the National Conference-Congress alliance is expected to win between 40 and 48 seats, while the BJP is projected to secure between 27 and 32 seats. The Mehbooba Mufti-led People’s Democratic Party (PDP) may win between 6 and 12 seats, with other parties and independents expected to claim 6 to 11 seats.
In terms of regional performance, the exit polls suggest that the BJP will maintain its dominance in Jammu, where it is expected to win 27 to 31 seats. However, the party’s performance in the Kashmir Valley, which has 47 seats, is expected to be less successful, though it may finally open its account in the region
