The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won Haryana for a third consecutive time defying an anti-incumbency of 10 years, as well as exit polls that had projected a massive win for the opposition Congress. While BJP won 48 seats the Congress won 37. Three independents and two candidates from INLD were victorious too. The majority figure in the 90-member House is 46. However, the Congress, which has been out of power for 10 years, has been far behind despite winning more seats than the 2019 Assembly elections.
As the counting began at 8 am, the BJP and Congress were engaged in a seesaw battle and at around 9 am, one hour after the counting of votes began, the Congress had surged far ahead of the BJP.
Incumbent CM Saini won the election from the Ladwa Assembly seat by a margin of 16,054 votes. Former CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda successfully defended his Garhi Sampla-Kiloi constituency in Rohtak. The 77-year-old veteran politician secured a substantial lead of 71,465 votes over his closest competitor, Manju Hooda from the BJP.
Mamman Khan, the Congress MLA from Ferozpur Jhirka assembly constituency, who was arrested for inciting Nuh violence recorded the highest winning margin 98,441 votes over his nearest rival Naseem Ahmed of BJP. In the Uchana Kalan constituency, BJP's Devender Chatar Bhuj Attri defeated Congress' Brijendra Singh by just 32 votes. Dushyant Chautala finished in fifth place, trailing the winner by over 41,000 votes.
Senior State leaders who lost the election are INLD's Abhay Singh Chautala, JJP's Dushyant Chautala, BJP's Gian Chand Gupta, Gopal Kanda (Haryana Lokhit Party), and BJP's O P Dhankar. INLD's Abhay Chautala lost the Ellenabad seat to Congress candidate Bharat Singh Beniwal by a margin of 15,000 votes.
Wrestler-turned-politician Vinesh Phogat won the Julana Assembly constituency by a margin of 6,015 votes. “This was a people’s battle, and they’ve won and I was just a face. I am thankful for all the love and respect that I've received,” said Congress candidate Vinesh Phogat.
From the Thanesar seat, Ashok Kumar Arora from the Congress secured victory with 70,076 votes, gaining a margin of 3,243 votes. His opponent, Subhash Sudha from the BJP polled 66,833 votes. Savitri Jindal, an Independent candidate, won from Hisar. Savitri Jindal is India’s wealthiest woman and controls OP Jindal Group. In Ambala Cantonment, BJP candidate and six-time legislator Anil Vij won the election and defeated his nearest rival, Independent candidate Chitra Sarwara. BJP candidate Shruti Choudhry won the election against her cousin and Congress candidate Anirudh Chaudhary from the Tosham seat.
From the Muslim-dominated Nuh, all three seats were retained by the Congress. They are Aftab Ahmed from Nuh, Mohammad Ilyas from Punahana and Mamman Khan from Ferozepur Jhirka.
After the BJP raced ahead in Haryana, AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday said the “biggest lesson” of the poll results is that one should never be “overconfident” in the elections. “No election should be taken lightly. Each election and each seat is tough,” he added.
Senior Congress leader and Sirsa MP Kumari Selja expressed disappointment over the election results. "The results are disappointing. We were hopeful until this morning. All our workers, who have dedicated the last 10 years to the Congress party, are understandably upset. Such a result brings immense disappointment. We need to make a fresh start, reflect on our shortcomings, and identify who is responsible for this outcome," the veteran Congress leader said.
Speaking on infighting in the Congress party, Former CM and Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda said, “Congress is united. You can see the BJP, Anil Vij did not come out of his house, Ram Bilas Sharma's ticket was cut. In a democratic party, 'matbhed' (difference of opinion) can be there but there is no 'manbhed' (difference of thought).
BJP MP Kiran Choudhry said "I had said from the beginning that BJP will form a government with full majority because BJP is an organised party. BJP's policies are beneficial for every section and the public has seen this and on the other side a particular person and his son were visible, only conspiracies were visible there and corruption was rampant, so the people of Haryana have accepted the fact that now there is no such thing as Congress in Haryana. I have been saying from the beginning that this is now a 'babu beta' party and the public has completely rejected them."
Anil Vij said," This is the victory of BJP's policies and this is the victory of Prime Minister Narendra Modi who wants to take the country forward and this is the victory of people's trust."
Political Observers opined that by getting an unprecedented third term in a state, BJP has achieved a victory that even the party itself may not have fully anticipated. For once, most pollsters seemed on the same page as they predicted a Congress win in Haryana, a sentiment echoed by some within the BJP itself. However, the BJP not only defied these predictions but also improved on its 2019 tally of 40 seats.
The win marks the first time a party will form a government for three consecutive terms in Haryana. It also signals a significant shift with the appointment of an OBC Chief Minister, Nayab Singh Saini, in a state long known as “Jatland.” Saini, representing the 40 per cent OBC electorate, was elevated to the top seat ahead of the elections in March and led the party as its CM face, Observer added.
Dramatic turnaround in celebrations at BJP and Cong offices within hours
The early trends of Haryana results sprang a surprise on two counts - the first being the BJP decimating the "popular perception" of a Congress wave in the Jat-dominated state, and the second, a turnaround in celebrations at the Congress and the BJP offices. The respective offices of Congress and BJP witnessed a dramatic shift in celebrations within two hours of counting. Early trends showed the BJP trailing behind the Congress, leading to celebrations and sweets distribution at the latter's headquarters in Delhi. However, as the trends veered towards the BJP, jubiliations also shifted venues. About an hour after the counting began, the BJP started taking the lead over Congress, energising and enthusing its ranks and file. The celebrations which initially started at the Congress office shifted to BJP headquarters. The BJP continues to pip the Congress after a couple of rounds of counting and has consolidated its numbers beyond the halfway mark. The official numbers from the Election Commission also corroborate the figures.
People in Haryana gave mandate to BJP for Modi govt's work, party's 10-year rule in state: Khattar
People have given a mandate to the BJP in Haryana for a third consecutive term on Prime Minister Narendra Modi government's policies, achievements and way of functioning, and rejected the Congress and its "lies", Union minister Manohar Lal Khattar said on Tuesday.
"The Congress was continuously lying and spreading confusion. But people have rejected what the Congress was saying and appreciated the BJP," Khattar told reporters. "People have sent out a message. The Modi government's policies, achievements and way of functioning were leaving an impact on the people. Responding to this, people have given the mandate to the BJP for a third consecutive term," he added.
People have approved the 10-year tenure of the BJP in Haryana, Khattar said, when asked if the poll results were the people's approval of his nine-year tenure as the Haryana chief minister. "In all, people have put a seal of approval on the BJP's policies, the work of our leaders and our intentions," he added.
Khattar said this is the first time that any party is going to form its government in Haryana for a third term. "It is a record in itself. No other party has ever been able to form its government in Haryana for a third time," he said and gave the credit for this to the people of the state and BJP workers.
On the Congress raising the issue of wrestlers, farmers and soldiers during its poll campaign, Khattar said people have rejected the opposition party's lies. "The Congress cannot do as much for the farmers, soldiers and wrestlers of Haryana as we have done. And it was known to everyone," he said. People of Haryana and the democracy in the state are "extremely mature", Khattar added.
Results came as a surprise, says Hooda
Soon after the results, Bhupinder Singh Hooda, the main face of the Congress in the Assembly elections, said the results surprised the party and that the outcome in Haryana was opposite to the atmosphere in the state.
Replying to a question on the results, Hooda told reporters, "The results have left us 'achambhit' (stunned) and the BJP must also be 'achambhit'. These results are opposite to what the atmosphere was in the state. What is the role of 'tantar' (in it), we will probe it. We lost many seats with low margins," he further said.
"We received complaints from many places as well. The way the delay took place. Anyhow, the AICC will meet the ECI. There is no doubt that these (results) are 'ascharya chakit' (surprising)," Hooda said.
Earlier in the day, the Congress raised with the Election Commission the issue of an "unexplained slowdown" in updating the results of Haryana elections on the poll watchdog's website and urged it to direct officials to update accurate figures so that "false news and malicious narratives" can be countered immediately.
Dismissing talk of any factionalism in the party, Hooda said the Congress was united in the elections. "In a democratic party, anybody may have differences but there cannot be 'manbhed'," he said. On Congress leader Kumari Selja blaming proper coordination in the party, Hooda asked whose work was for proper coordination. It was the job of everyone, he asserted.
Replying to a question on the Congress raising the issues pertaining to EVMs, he said, "There must be something. We received complaints from candidates." On a query on the consolidation of non-Jat votes in favour of the BJP, he said there was nothing like that. Asked about his next course of action, Hooda said in a democracy "whatever is the people's decision, we will accept it".
Highlights
1--Congress' celebratory mood at AICC headquarters turned sombre by noon as Haryana election trends shifted towards a shock defeat
2--Early trends suggested a big Congress win, with workers celebrating, but by 10 am, BJP started clawing back, dampening the mood
3--Congress leaders remained hopeful for a trend change by 1pm, but it didn’t materialise. The canteen prepared special dishes, but disappointment loomed as there were few takers
4--By 2pm, BJP had crossed the majority mark in Haryana with 47 seats, while Congress lagged behind with 38 seats
5--Congress raised concerns with the Election Commission over a delay in updating Haryana election results, alleging "false news" and “malicious narratives.”
6- In the Uchana Kalan constituency, BJP's Devender Chatar Bhuj Attri defeated Congress' Brijendra Singh by just 32 votes. Dushyant Chautala finished in fifth place, trailing the winner by over 41,000 votes
7 --Mamman Khan, the Congress MLA from Ferozpur Jhirka assembly constituency, who was arrested for inciting Nuh violence recorded the highest winning margin 98,441 votes over his nearest rival Naseem Ahmed of BJP
its split in 2018. In the Lok Sabha elections, too, the INLD had lost all its seats.
