Will win 30-35 seats: J&K BJP chief Ravinder Raina as counting of votes begins

Jammu and Kashmir BJP chief Ravinder Raina and former Deputy Chief Minister Kavinder Gupta expressed confidence in the party's victory. They said work done for people will ensure victory for the party.

In Short

• BJP confident of winning 30-35 seats in Jammu and Kashmir
• Ravinder Raina claims work done for J&K people will ensure victory
• BJP expected to perform poorly in Valley but strong in Jammu

Jammu and Kashmir BJP chief Ravinder Raina on Tuesday expressed confidence in the party's victory in the Union Territory, stating that the BJP will emerge as the single largest party with 30 to 35 seats and will form the government.

The counting of votes for the 90 seats in the Jammu and Kashmir assembly is scheduled to begin at 8 am on Tuesday.

Raina, who is contesting from the Nowshera Assembly seat, performed a pooja ahead of the counting and said, "We are confident that the BJP and its allied parties will win the elections with a full majority... We expect to secure 30-35 seats".

"BJP has worked for the people of J&K... We are hopeful of winning the elections with a full majority... We will secure 30-35 seats. Independent candidates backed by the BJP will also be victorious," Raina added.

BJP leader and former Deputy Chief Minister Kavinder Gupta also expressed confidence in the party's victory.

Echoing Raina, he said, "The BJP has led the people of J&K on the path to development, moving them away from stone-pelting. They have been freed from separatism, terrorism, corruption, and dynastic politics. In the way we have shifted from bullets to ballots, from terrorism to tourism, people have voted for the BJP, and we will emerge as the largest party and form the government."

The CVoter exit poll shown on India Today projected a hung assembly in Jammu and Kashmir, with the National Conference-Congress alliance expected to win between 40 and 48 seats. The BJP was projected to secure 27–32 seats, while the Mehbooba Mufti-led People's Democratic Party (PDP) might win 6–12 seats. Other parties and independent candidates were expected to take 6–11 seats.

The BJP's overall performance in the Valley, which has 47 seats, is expected to remain poor, according to exit polls. However, the party might finally open its account this time. Meanwhile, the party is likely to maintain its stronghold in Jammu, securing 27–31 seats out of the total 43.