BJP defies exit polls in Haryana, surges ahead of Congress in initial counting
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DHARAMSHALA: In a surprising turn of events, early counting in Haryana’s Assembly elections is showing that the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is leading, defying predictions from exit polls that had pointed to a clear victory for the Congress.
As of 10.50 am (October 8, 2024), the BJP is ahead in 47 out of the state’s 90 constituencies, while the Congress is leading in 36.
In contrast to the BJP’s strong showing, an aggregate of seven exit polls had predicted a decisive win for the Congress, projecting the party to secure 55 seats — well above the 45-seat majority mark. The same exit polls had forecasted a mere 26 seats for the BJP.
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Despite the upbeat mood at the Congress headquarters in New Delhi earlier in the morning, where celebrations broke out with dhols and dancing, the initial leads now suggest that the BJP is poised to secure its third consecutive term in Haryana. Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, who succeeded former Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar in March, expressed confidence that his party would form the government again.
“We’ve done substantial development work over the past decade. The foundation laid by Manohar Lal Khattar has ensured long-term benefits for the people of Haryana. It’s our duty to continue this good work,” Saini told reporters as the counting progressed.
As the leads tilted in favour of the BJP, Congress supporters were forced to scale down their celebrations but maintained that they still had hope of winning the election.
In the 2019 Assembly elections, the BJP had won 40 seats, the Congress 31 and the Jannayak Janta Party (JJP) 10. The BJP formed a coalition government with the JJP, which saw Dushyant Chautala take the role of Deputy Chief Minister. However, the post-poll alliance broke down earlier this year when Saini took over as the Chief Minister, marking a significant shift in the state’s political landscape.
For the BJP, this election is a crucial test of its enduring popularity in Haryana, especially after the party failed to achieve a majority in the 2024 general election, securing only five of the 10 Lok Sabha seats in the state.
The results of the Haryana Assembly elections, as well as the ongoing polls in Jammu and Kashmir, are seen as critical opportunities for the party to reaffirm its standing with the electorate.
For the Congress, the stakes are equally high. After being largely written off following the 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha defeats, the party has been citing its recent gains of 99 seats in this year’s general election as proof of a resurgence. The performance of the Congress in Haryana, along with the results in Jammu and Kashmir, is being viewed as a litmus test of its ability to regain political momentum at the state and national levels.
