Haryana Assembly Election 2024: Exit Polls Predict Congress Upsurge

Voting for the Haryana Assembly elections concluded on October 5, 2024, with Congress predicted to emerge as the frontrunner. Exit polls have indicated a potential victory for the party, forecasting it could win between 44 and 64 of the 90 seats, as outlined by various surveys including Republic TV-Matrize, People Pulse, Dainik Bhaskar, and Dhruv Research.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which is seeking a third consecutive term under the leadership of Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, faces a tough challenge from the Congress, led by Bhupinder Singh Hooda. Exit polls project the BJP to secure between 15 and 32 seats.

Other political entities in the fray include the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) in alliance with the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), and the Jannayak Janata Party (JJP) partnered with the Azad Samaj Party. However, these alliances are expected to capture only a few seats, fortifying the advantage for Congress.

The elections saw participation from 1,031 candidates, including 101 women, across 90 constituencies, with a turnout reaching approximately 63% by the end of polling.

Reflecting on the exit poll results, Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda expressed confidence, stating, “There is a wave in favour of Congress, and we will form the government with a decisive majority.” In contrast, Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini maintained optimism about the BJP’s prospects, asserting, “We have worked for every section of society, freeing the state from regionalism and dynastic politics.”

Voting for Haryana’s assembly took place amid social tensions, including frustrations among farmers, wrestlers, and youth, issues that the Congress has capitalized on in their election campaign. The party manifesto includes guarantees like a legal commitment to Minimum Support Prices (MSPs) and a monthly allowance for women.

The specifics of the voting dynamics indicate that Mewat reported the highest voter turnout at 68.28%, while Gurugram marked the lowest at 49.97% by 5 PM. Such figures provide insights into regional voter engagement and preferences.

The final results will be revealed on October 8, alongside the outcomes from Jammu and Kashmir, where the National Conference-Congress alliance is also expected to perform strongly against the BJP.