Srinagar: Nights are getting longer and sleep is proving elusive for political leaders as the countdown for poll results began in Jammu and Kashmir.

After the peaceful seven phases of polling, the results will be announced on Sunday when counting in 87 assembly constituencies will start. Held in the aftermath of the bitter Amarnath land agitation which had divided JK on communal and regional lines, the results of the hard-fought elections are eagerly anticipated.

With results hours away, most of the political leaders are huddled in last minute meetings, trying to analyse ground reports in a bid to form a rough idea of the number of seats the parties may be getting.

However, every player wants to claim that they alone can reach the magic number of 44 and form the government. "We will definitely emerge as the single largest party in the assembly. We are confident of improving on our last tally," said Dr Mehboob Beig, provincial president of the National Conference (NC).

Dr Beig is pitted against the PDP chief Mufti Mohammad Sayeed in the Anantnag assembly segment of south Kashmir. "I hope history would be created from Anantnag," he said. "I wish I could know the results today so that I can enjoy a sound sleep tonight. The suspense is killing," he added.

The Congress, too, is edgy about the results, but is confident of forming the government with the support of the independents. "We will get the maximum number of seats and in case there is a need, we will tie up with the independents to reach the required number," said Abdul Gani Vakil, senior vice-president of the JK Pradesh Congress Committee.

Local Congress leaders, however, are wary of having a post-poll alliance with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which was instrumental in bringing down the Azad-led government in July. "It will be disastrous for Congress to ally itself with the PDP. And I believe we will not need their support after the results are declared", said Vakil.

The PDP is confident that it will emerge as the single largest party in the 87-member house. "We are hoping to be the single largest party. We have fared well in the polls. Whether we form the government or form alliances will depend upon the numbers we get," said Abdul Rehman Veeri, general secretary of the PDP.

This election broke all previous electoral records with 1,353 candidates trying their luck. Add to this the 468 independents and 67 women contesting these polls. A total of 39.60 lakh people cast their votes this time.

The huge turnout in the polls has forced the separatists to admit that they have suffered a setback. "We failed to translate the massive show of defiance by the Kashmiri people into deliverance. We need to build institutions of resistance and this cannot be achieved by breaking the windshields of cars belonging to Kashmiris", said senior separatist leader and Peoples Conference chairman Sajjad Gani Lone.
Source : Central