Author: TNN
Publication: The Times of India
Date: December 20, 2014
URL: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/specials/2014-assembly-elections/jammu-kashmir-news/No-clear-winner-in-JK-Exit-polls/articleshow/45587708.cms

Exit polls in Jammu & Kashmir predicted no party would get a clear majority in the 87-seat assembly.

 The CVoter exit poll predicted BJP would get 27-33 seats, PDP would get 32-38, National Conference (NC) 8-14, Congress: 4-10 and other 2-8. The vote share according to exit polls is: PDP 25%, BJP 26%, JKNC 19%, INC 17% and others 13%

 After exit polls, PDP emerged the single-largest party in the state. It will require support if it is to form the government in J&K. The party, however, remained non-committal on the option of an alliance with either the Congress or the BJP.

The CSDS poll said PDP's Mufti Mohd Sayeed was the most preferred choice for chief minister.

 J&K chief minister Omar Abdullah dismissed today's exit poll projections tweeting, "I'll wait for the only exit poll that really matters — the one on the 23rd of December."

 Meanwhile, describing 2014 as a year of record-high voter turnouts, the Election Commission on Saturday said the 66% overall polling in J&K was its highest in the last two-and-a-half decades.

 The fifth and final phase on Saturday saw 70%-plus turnouts, with J&K recording 76% polling.

 Terming the latest J&K assembly election as "historic" given its high turnout and peaceful conduct, deputy election commissioner Vinod Zutshi said the state had witnessed the highest turnout in around "two-and-a-half decades". The highest turnout in J&K, it be recalled, was recorded during the 1987 assembly polls, at a whopping 74.88%. This was slightly higher than the 1983 polling figure of 73.24%.