Exit polls predict hung assembly in Jammu Kashmir: Congress ahead, but Mehbooba Mufti's PDP could be 'kingmaker'

With 90 seats in the assembly, the halfway mark to secure a majority is 46.

The Axis My India exit poll predicts the Congress-NC alliance will secure 35-45 seats, while the BJP is expected to win 24-34 seats.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is forecast to gain 4-6 seats, and other parties are predicted to win 12-18 seats.

An exit poll by Dainik Bhaskar forecasts similar results, with the BJP likely to secure 20-25 seats, the Congress-NC alliance 35-40 seats, PDP 4-7 seats, and other parties 12-16 seats.

The Peoples Pulse exit poll provides a more favourable prediction for the Congress-NC alliance, forecasting 46-50 seats, while predicting 23-27 seats for the BJP, 7-11 for PDP, and 4-6 for others.

India Today-C Voter forecasts 27-32 seats for the BJP, 40-48 for the Congress-NC alliance, 6-12 for PDP, and 6-11 for other parties.

There is a possibility the BJP could form the government if it emerges as the single-largest party.

Restoring statehood has been a key issue in this election. Both the BJP and the Congress-NC alliance have promised to restore Jammu and Kashmir's statehood.

A notable development in the election has been the entry of the banned Jamaat-e-Islami, which supported some candidates, along with its strategic partnership with Engineer Rashid's Awami Ittehad Party.