The BJP's unexpected victory in Haryana against exit polls' predictions underscores the party's resilience and strategic prowess despite challenges. This result is likely to boost the BJP's position in the upcoming Maharashtra and Jharkhand elections and challenge the opposition's unity and strategies.

This was also the first assembly election to be held since the federal government revoked the region's autonomy and changed the former state into a federally governed territory of Jammu and Kashmir in 2019. Votes are also being counted in the northern state of Haryana.

India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) appeared on course for a surprise win on Tuesday in polls in the northern state of Haryana, but was trailing the opposition in the first elections in a decade in troubled Muslim-majority Jammu and Kashmir.