Haryana Assembly Elections 2024: BJP Holds Majority as Results Unfold

Political tension was palpable in Haryana on October 8, 2024, as the counting of votes for the assembly elections began at 8 am. The incumbent Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) displayed an early lead, aiming for a third consecutive term, while the Congress sought a comeback after a decade of being out of power. The results were anticipated to have implications for upcoming elections in states like Maharashtra, Jharkhand, and Delhi.

The state’s Chief Electoral Officer, Pankaj Agarwal, assured the public of a secure counting process, mentioning the implementation of a three-layered security system at counting centers. Amongst the competing parties were the BJP, Congress, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Indian National Lok Dal-Bahujan Samaj Party (INLD-BSP), and Jannayak Janata Party-Azad Samaj Party (JJP-ASJP).

Leading into the election, polling took place on October 5, with a voter turnout of 67.9 percent. The election saw 1,031 candidates, including 464 independents and 101 women, vying for seats across 90 constituencies. Early trends and exit polls predicted a close contest with a potential tilt towards Congress, igniting hopes within the party.

Despite these predictions, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini of the BJP remained confident about his party’s victory. Saini, leading in the Ladwa constituency, expressed his belief that the BJP would continue its governance, contrasting the BJP’s “honest service” against Congress’s alleged corruption.

Meanwhile, prominent Congress leader and former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda expressed optimism about achieving a “clear majority.” Hooda was significantly ahead in the Garhi Sampla-Kiloi constituency, attributing potential success to the party’s past achievements and increased vote shares, alongside Rahul Gandhi‘s Bharat Jodo Yatra initiatives.

Key contest outcomes included Ram Karan of Congress winning the Shahbad seat, defeating Subhash Chand of BJP with 61,050 votes, and Ashok Kumar Arora of Congress claiming victory in Thanesar. Conversely, the BJP’s Anil Vij trailed behind independent candidate Chitra Sarwara in Ambala Cantt, marking a surprising turn.

In a significant development, Independent candidate Savitri Jindal emerged as a frontrunner in Hisar, while BJP’s Jagmohan Anand held a lead in the Karnal constituency. The electoral dynamics in Haryana also witnessed the fall of key figures such as JJP’s Dushyant Chautala, who trailed in Uchana Kalan.

As the results unfolded, BJP was leading in 49 of the 90 seats, surpassing the majority mark of 46, while Congress was ahead in 35 seats. Independent candidates and minor parties like INLD managed to lead on a few seats, maintaining a multi-party competitive environment.