The NC has 28, the PDP 21, the Congress 17 and the BJP 11 seats in the state assembly with independents and others accounting for 10 seats.
What has encouraged the BJP to aim high in the assembly elections is the response Narendra Modi received during his two visits to the Jammu region during the election campaign that swept him into the prime minister's office.
The Congress was uprooted by BJP candidates during the Lok Sabha elections in assembly segments that had once been its strongholds.
The BJP's Jugul Kishore won from Jammu, leaving his Congress rival, Madan Lal Sharma, miles behind.
The Chhamb (reserved) assembly segment, represented by senior Congress leader and Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand, saw more votes polled for the BJP candidate than the Congress candidate.
