Amid BJP stunner, Kashmir heads for hung assembly

Srinagar/Jammu, Dec 23: Jammu and Kashmir was Tuesday headed for a hung assembly with the BJP putting up a spectacular show in the Hindu-majority Jammu region and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) proving the leader in the largely Muslim Kashmir Valley. The National Conference of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah was headed for defeat after six years in power along with the Congress, which too was set for a dismal performance, Election Commission officials said. Abdullah was declared defeated in Sonawar in Srinagar, one of the two constituencies he contested from. He was also trailing from Beerwah in the Kashmir Valley. Bharatiya Janata Party candidates were declared elected from 11 constituencies and were on the winning track in 15 - all in Jammu region save one in Buddhist-dominated Ladakh. In contrast, the PDP led by former chief minister Mufti Mohammed Saeed, who won from Anantnag, had bagged 16 seats and was set for victory in 15 -- overwhelmingly in the Kashmir Valley. An alliance between the PDP and BJP would give them the numbers needed to form a government in the 87-member assembly but it wasn't immediately clear if they were working towards a post-election partnership. The National Conference won six seats and was leading in seven, mainly from the Kashmir Valley. The Congress bagged two seats in the valley and was in the lead in nine places -- mostly in Jammu region. Political sources said the Congress was hoping to team up with the PDP and smaller parties in a bid to trip the BJP. A total of 48.29 lakh votes are being counted Tuesday. Most exit polls predicted a hung assembly in Jammu and Kashmir at the end of staggered polling.