Haryana is witnessing a crucial assembly election today, with voter turnout reaching 22.7% by 11 AM as citizens cast their votes for all 90 seats in the Assembly. This election is significant as the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) aims for a hat-trick in the state, while the Indian National Congress (INC) hopes to reclaim power after a decade in the opposition. Key competitors in this election include the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Indian National Lok Dal (INLD), Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), Jannayak Janta Party (JJP), and the Azad Samaj Party (ASP).
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been at the forefront of the BJP’s campaign, addressing four rallies where he criticized the Congress party on various issues, including the sensitive Ram temple matter. Meanwhile, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has been actively engaging with the public, asserting that a “Congress storm” is brewing in Haryana and promising to establish a government dedicated to the welfare of farmers and the poor. He envisions a “mohabbat ki dukan” (shop of love) in every corner of the state.
In a strategic move, Congress has ceded the Bhiwani assembly seat to its INDIA bloc partner, the Communist Party of India (Marxist). The BJP is also not contesting the Sirsa seat, where Haryana Lokhit Party chief Gopal Kanda seeks re-election. Most constituencies are expected to see a direct contest between the BJP and Congress, particularly in prominent seats such as Chief Minister Saini’s Ladwa, Leader of Opposition Hooda’s Garhi Sampla-Kiloi, and INLD’s Abhay Singh Chautala’s Ellenabad.
The BJP has nominated Bhavya Bishnoi, grandson of former Chief Minister Bhajan Lal, from the Adampur segment in Hisar. The party’s candidate from Ateli in Mahendragarh is Arti Rao, daughter of Union Minister Rao Inderjit Singh. Independent candidates such as Savitri Jindal and Ranjit Chautala are also vying for attention in this election.
Haryana’s last assembly election in 2019 saw the BJP winning 40 seats, the Congress securing 31, and the JJP taking 10. The BJP formed the government with support from the JJP and independent candidates. However, tensions escalated after the BJP replaced former Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar with Nayab Singh Saini in March.
The Director General of Police, Shatrujeet Kapur, stated that over 30,000 police personnel and 225 paramilitary companies have been deployed to ensure a free and fair election process. Among the total voters, 1.07 crore are men, 95 lakh are women, and 467 are transgenders, with votes to be counted on October 8. Notably, 8,821 voters are aged over 100, including 3,283 men and 5,538 women. The previous assembly elections recorded a turnout of approximately 68%.
