Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) headed for a surprise election victory in Haryana state on Tuesday, reinforcing its popularity in the northern heartland a few months after stumbling in national elections.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday (8 October) addressed Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers at party headquarters in Delhi after the BJP's historic victory in Haryana and its impressive showing in the Jammu and Kashmir polls.

BJP secures victory in Haryana assembly polls with 39.94% votes, closely followed by Congress at 39.09%. Both parties show increased support.

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.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) trailed in two provincial elections as votes were counted on Tuesday, TV channels said, a fresh setback after it failed to win a clear majority in the general election this year.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s party appeared to be in a tighter contest in local elections in two northern provinces, in contrast to exit polls that predicted losses in both.

By Sakshi Dayal NEW DELHI (Reuters) -Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) moved into the lead in elections in the northern state of Haryana on Tuesday, reversing early trends when it was trailing the main opposition Congress party,