Haryana's Assembly elections on October 5, 2024, marked a pivotal moment as voters flooded the polling stations, driven by the fervor of democracy and calls for change. From early morning, the atmosphere buzzed with anticipation, with numerous first-time voters joining the fray.
According to reports, as of 3 PM, 49.13% of voters had cast their ballots, showcasing significant engagement across the state. Yamunanagar led the charge, boasting the highest turnout at 56.79%, followed closely by Mewat at 42.64%. On the other hand, some districts like Panchkula and Gurugram lagged, recording turnout rates of only 25.89% and 38.61%, respectively. The Election Commission had set up 20,632 polling stations to facilitate over two crore eligible voters, including 8,821 centenarians, marking this election as one with noteworthy participation.
Contentions surged as known personalities like the Congress’s well-regarded candidate and wrestler Bajrang Punia urged residents to exercise their right to vote, spotlighting the issues of job scarcity and agricultural distress. Punia emphasized the need for support for the Congress party, reflecting widespread sentiments among his supporters who felt disillusioned with the current status quo.
During the day's process, minor scuffles were reported among party supporters, particularly between Congress candidate Mohammad Ilyas and independent candidate Raees Khan's backers in Nuh, emanated tensions indicative of the highly charged electoral environment.
Political leaders were vocal throughout the day, with BJP’s Nayab Singh Saini projecting confidence and showcasing the government's ten-year performance as transformational. He stated, "We have very clearly told people about our seven guarantees, what we want to give them," illustrating the BJP’s strategy of leveraging their completed initiatives to secure votes. Saini also criticized former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda's legacy, claiming, "Hooda sahab used to look only at a certain class, but our government has worked for everyone."
The elections unfolded amid comprehensive campaigning strategies, with Congress leading its election thrust through Rahul Gandhi, who passionately appealed for public support, showcasing their seven-point manifesto aimed to address pressing concerns like minimum support prices (MSPs) and employment. Gandhi's stance, underlined by his visit to polling booths, aimed to galvanize support among young voters particularly impacted by recent economic policies.
Exit polls began surfacing as voter engagement hovered around the 63% mark by the end of the day. Pollsters hinted at Congress recovering its footing, predicting between 44-62 seats for the party, with BJP anticipated to secure between 15-29 seats, reflecting waning support compared to previous elections.
Voter turnout—the lifeblood of democracy—remained central to many leaders’ speeches. Sangeeta Phogat, also from the Congress party, reiterated the importance of voting, categorizing it as part of the larger social engagement process. She said, “It’s not just my vote; it’s about all of Haryana. Every voice counts.”
Union Minister Rao Inderjit Singh called for patience as results were to be revealed only on October 8, reflecting the general mood of cautious anticipation among political insiders and voters alike. Meanwhile, the social media buzz reflected the sentiments of Haryana voters; many noted their frustrations with current governance, contributing to widespread messages of hope for change.
Outside the polling stations, the atmosphere was celebratory, with families arriving together, some even prioritizing voting before important life events, as was the case for Sunil Kumar from Kurukshetra, who voted just before his wedding—the message from him being clear: civic duty precedes all. "Casting votes is very important," Kumar conveyed, instilling a refreshing reminder of the electoral responsibility.
