BJP Secures Third Consecutive Term in Haryana amid Congress Setbacks

In a notable turn of events, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has secured a decisive victory in the Haryana assembly elections by winning 48 seats, thereby obtaining a third consecutive term in office. This development comes in the face of significant anti-incumbency sentiment and predictions favoring a Congress triumph.

Contrary to the forecasted outcome, the Congress party finished the elections with 37 seats, falling short despite an increase in its vote share to 39.09%, closely matching BJP’s 39.89%. The opposition’s efforts were hampered by internal conflicts and strategic missteps that allowed the BJP to outmaneuver them effectively.

Among the BJP’s strategic moves was a targeted appeal to Other Backward Classes (OBC) voters and a division of Dalit votes. This tactic helped the party surpass its 2014 electoral achievement, where it secured 47 seats, marking the beginning of its governance on its own.

Bhupinder Hooda, former Chief Minister and a key figure in the Congress’s strategy, retained his seat by a substantial margin but admitted surprise at the election results. “We are surprised by the results, and it’s not just us — even BJP is surprised by this mandate,” Hooda commented.

Kumari Selja, another prominent Congress figure, expressed disappointment with the results, attributing the performance to ineffective election strategies and internal discord. “Our workers put in long hours, but with these results, it looks like all their efforts have gone to waste, ” she remarked, emphasizing the need for introspection and improved strategies.

The BJP narrative during the campaign, which focused on issues like ‘parchi and kharchi’ — allegations of Congress planning favoritism in government jobs — appeared to resonate with voters. Meanwhile, Congress’s attempts to highlight issues such as the farmers’ agitation and protests by wrestlers, spearheaded by opposition leader Rahul Gandhi, did not yield the anticipated electoral gains.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi thanked the people of Haryana for their support, attributing the BJP’s victory to the party’s commitment to development and good governance. “This is the victory of the politics of development and good governance,” Modi commented on social media.

The election also saw the decline of the Jannayak Janata Party (JJP) and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), both failing to win a single seat. On the other hand, the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) secured two seats, despite the overall challenging landscape.

In response to the election outcome, Congress’s allies in the INDIA bloc have urged the party to reassess its electoral strategies, especially with upcoming elections in Maharashtra and Jharkhand. Prominent leaders, including Jairam Ramesh and D Raja, have called for serious introspection and stronger coalition strategies.