With polls in Haryana complete today, at least 6 exit poll results indicate a new Congress government in the state. The assembly elections, which began briskly in the morning recorded a 65% voter turnout by 6 pm.
The Haryana elections for 90 assembly seats were fought by 1,031 candidates, with nearly 2 crore voters and 95 lakh women voters among them.
Tough Fight Between BJP and the Congress
The election campaign was a real tug-of-war between the BJP and Congress, with AAP, Indian National Lok Dal – Bahujan Sama Party (INLD-BSP) Alliance, and the Jannayak Janta Party – Azad Samaj Party (JJP-ASP) Alliance as other key players.
Current Chief Minister and BJP leader Nayab Singh Saini, State Congress leader and former CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda, and former deputy CM Dushyant Chautala were some top contestants in the fray. Former wrestler Vinesh Phogat, who faced disqualification at the Paris Olympics, contested as a Congress Candidate.
Poll Moments That Made News
Savitri Devi Jindal, the chairperson emeritus of the O.P. Jindal Group contested as an independent from the Hisar constituency against Haryana Minister and BJP MLA Kamal Gupta. Her son and BJP MP Naveen Jindal made a dramatic entry to vote at Kurukshetra by riding a horse.
There was another amusing poll day scene. Groom ‘Sunil Kumar’ appeared in his wedding attire at a polling booth in Pipli village in Kurukshetra. He chose to vote before tying the knot to his bride. There were also minor scuffles between Congress and BJP workers elsewhere in the state.
Controversies and War of Words
Casting his vote, Union Minister and former Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar said “The Congress party is just showing off and people in Haryana have finally understood it.” However, Congress leader Ashok Tanwar expressed confidence that people in the state would stand with the Congress party and Rahul Gandhi.
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju said, “In the last 10 years, good work has been done in the Haryana state, with the blessings of PM Modi. No one takes what Congress says seriously. For the last 70 years, they have made only false promises.”
The Haryana elections also saw some controversial debates. The social media was abuzz debating 20-day parole for Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim ahead of the polls. However, as predicted by many, the institution called on its followers to vote for the BJP during its Thursday night Satsang.
Haryana Election Results
With the assembly elections complete in the state, results are awaited on October 8. Results for Jammu and Kashmir, too, will be announced on the same date. Exit polls in the Union Territory predict a tight race between BJP and NC, with PDP and Congress trailing behind. One possible scenario is the BJP forming the government with the support of independents. The other most expected outcome is NC, Congress, and others come together to prevent the BJP from staking claim. Let’s wait and watch.
Exit Poll Results:
Congress likely to sweep Haryana