Polling Underway in Haryana for Assembly Elections

Polling is currently underway in Haryana for the Assembly elections, with the fate of key political figures such as Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, Bhupinder Singh Hooda, and Vinesh Phogat hanging in the balance. Other significant contenders include Jannayak Janta Party‘s Dushyant Chautala among a total of 1,027 candidates vying for leadership in the state.

The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) aims to secure a third consecutive term, while the Congress is hopeful of staging a comeback after being in opposition for a decade. The counting of votes is scheduled for October 8, 2024.

Chief Electoral Officer Pankaj Agarwal has announced that 2.03 crore voters are eligible to cast their votes across 20,632 polling booths. Among the candidates, there are 101 women contesting, with 464 contesting as independents across 90 assembly constituencies.

The high-stakes electoral battle involves major parties, including the BJP, Congress, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), and regional alliances such as the Indian National Lok Dal–Bahujan Samaj Party (INLD-BSP) and the Jannayak Janta Party-Azad Samaj Party (JJP-ASP).

Security measures have been intensified with the deployment of 225 paramilitary companies and 60,000 security personnel, complemented by 11,000 Special Police Officers.

Noteworthy early voters include former Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, who expressed confidence in BJP’s victory, projecting over 50 seat wins. In the previous election, the BJP managed to secure 40 seats, while Congress won 31 seats, and the JJP took 10 seats.

The political discourse is animated, with Congress MP Deepender Hooda asserting that the electorate is eager for a change that would prioritize the welfare of Haryana’s youth, farmers, and the poor.

Prominent figures like Olympian Manu Bhaker and former wrestler Babita Phogat have also been vocal in urging citizens to fulfill their democratic duty by voting.

The elections, characterized by a fierce contest among BJP, Congress, and regional alliances, are observed closely as voters decide on their next government amidst issues such as anti-incumbency, farmer concerns, and regional development.