The Haryana Assembly elections held on October 5, 2024, have taken center stage with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) maintaining its dominance, projected to win approximately 50 seats out of 90. Meanwhile, the Indian National Congress (INC) is securing around 34 seats, with the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD), Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), and independent candidates accounting for the remaining votes. An exciting highlight of the election was Olympic wrestler Vinesh Phogat's victory from the Julana assembly constituency, where she claimed triumph by over 6,000 votes.
The BJP's electoral success had been anticipated due to several strategic factors. Key among them was the party's decision to nominate Nayab Singh Saini as Chief Minister, consolidative efforts aimed at non-Jat communities, and significant modifications to their candidate list to reduce discontent among constituents. The BJP replaced nearly 60 candidates to counter anti-incumbency sentiments, which stood in stark comparison to Congress's approach.
Vinesh Phogat, celebrated for her wrestling achievements, expressed deep gratitude post-victory. “This battle belonged to the people, not just me,” she articulated, encapsulating her sentiment of being the representative of every woman fighting for their right. She indicated optimism about the Congress’s overall performance, notwithstanding the party’s trailing position behind the BJP as vote counting progresses. Phogat is not only making waves due to her past accolades but now also as a political figure, marking her debut win.
Political analysts and party representatives noted how Congress's focus on Jat votes—making up about 27% of the electorate—led to considerable miscalculation and strategy failures. The party had initially shown promise by securing leads in Jat dense areas; yet, as the votes were counted, the scale shifted dramatically to the BJP's favor, showcasing the latter’s effective outreach and campaigning.
Former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda’s Congress faced internal strife which affected their unity and campaign efficacy. This infighting particularly spotlighted tensions between Dalit leader Kumari Selja and Hooda, and multiple missteps along the way saw Congress miscalculations about their leadership and candidate selection.
On the BJP's end, unexpected success was credited to their innovative grassroots campaigning and targeted economic messaging including Direct Benefit Transfers. The reforms appealed across demographic lines, supplementing the party’s traditional support base more broadly.
While BJP’s Anil Vij, a seasoned leader, was initially trailing behind an independent candidate, he regained momentum and secured his seat, demonstrating the party’s resilience across multiple fronts. “I want to thank the people of Ladwa and the entire population of Haryana. This victory is largely attributed to PM Modi’s policies,” said Saini, aiming to galvanize his supporters amid celebrations of the results.
The vote counting process was characterized by significant security measures. A three-tier security arrangement was enacted at counting locations, reflecting the sensitive nature of polling discussions and projections. Despite this, there were marked complaints from opposition parties about discrepancies and potential delays from official vote updates which they alleged were hindering transparency.
This election was particularly noteworthy as it was the first assembly election since the revocation of Article 370, which previously granted autonomy to the state of Jammu and Kashmir. Observers have pointed out the contrasting narratives across regions; where Haryana's populace registered high turnout rates reflective of political engagement, concerns lingered over voter apathy, particularly within urban settings.
The Election Commission of India reported overall voter turnout at 67.9%, which surpasses the recent Lok Sabha elections’ turnout yet still revealed potential urban voting discontent, with cities like Gurugram recording turnout rates of just approximately 51.8%. The moving tide shown during Haryana polling remarked on rural voters favoring political engagement significantly more than their urban counterparts, causing concern over the participation disparity.
Social media reports depicted jubilant scenes of BJP members celebrating the favorable election results, indicative of the momentum the party hopes to carry forward through the upcoming state elections. Congress leaders, on the other hand, expressed the need to reassess their strategies and gain insight from this electrical process.
While each party continues to assess their strategies moving forward, the BJP seems set for another triumphant term, thanks to coalition strengths and popular outreach. Meanwhile, Congress’s task to regain footing and unity will be pivotal as they strategize for future elections.
