Haryana heads to the polls today in a high-stakes contest between the BJP and Congress. Over 2 crore voters will cast their ballots to elect 90 legislators in a single-phase election, as the ruling BJP eyes a third consecutive victory while the Congress looks to reclaim power after a decade. Polls opened at 7 am and will close at 6 pm.
Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, Congress’s Bhupinder Singh Hooda, and JJP leader Dushyant Chautala are among the prominent candidates in this election. Notable first-time contestants include Vinesh Phogat of the Congress and Bhavya Bishnoi of the BJP.
The BJP, which has governed Haryana for the past 10 years, faces the challenge of anti-incumbency but remains optimistic. Chief Minister Saini emphasized the development work of his government, calling Haryana a “developed state” under BJP leadership.
The Congress, led by Rahul Gandhi, aims to leverage recent Lok Sabha election momentum, promoting a manifesto focused on MSP guarantees, a caste survey, and a Rs 2,000 monthly allowance for women.
Voting is taking place at 20,632 polling booths across the state, with 1,031 candidates in the fray, including 101 women and 464 independents.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged citizens to participate in the “holy festival of democracy” and set a new voting record.
The vote count will take place on October 8, 2024, with exit polls expected later this evening after voting concludes.
