Voting for all 90 assembly seats in Haryana kicked off early Saturday after weeks of intense campaigning by major political parties, including the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress, as well as new challengers like the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). With polling stations open from 7 AM to 6 PM, the state is set to witness a crucial battle as the BJP eyes a third consecutive term in power.
Former Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar was among the first to cast his vote, arriving at GGSSS Prem Nagar in Karnal to perform his civic duty. Speaking to the press before voting, Khattar urged the public to participate actively in the election, stating, "People should cast their vote today. The administration has made all the arrangements, and elections will be held peacefully. BJP is confident of winning, and we will form the government in the state for the third time."
Khattar, who served as Haryana’s chief minister for over 9 years before being succeeded by Nayab Singh Saini earlier this year, remains a key figure in the BJP's campaign. Saini, contesting from the Ladwa constituency, is leading the party's efforts to retain power amidst competition from the Congress and other opposition alliances.
The election sees a wide array of political contenders, with the BJP aiming to overcome anti-incumbency and recent issues like the farmers' protests and wrestler protests. In addition to the BJP and Congress, the Jannayak Janta Party (JJP), in alliance with the Azad Samaj Party (ASP), and the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD), aligned with the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), are also vying for control. The results are scheduled to be announced on October 8, alongside those from Jammu and Kashmir.
According to Haryana’s Chief Electoral Officer Pankaj Agarwal, a total of 2,03,54,350 voters are eligible to vote in this election, including 1,07,75,957 men, 95,77,926 women, and 467 third-gender voters. In total, 1,031 candidates are contesting across the state's 90 constituencies, and 20,632 polling booths have been established.
To ensure the elections proceed smoothly, the state has deployed a massive security force of 29,462 police personnel, along with 21,196 home guards and 10,403 Special Police Officers (SPOs). Strict surveillance is being maintained at all polling stations to ensure a safe and fair voting process.
The elections are also notable for the presence of several high-profile candidates, including Vinesh Phogat, the celebrated wrestler who recently joined the Congress. Phogat, along with Olympian Bajrang Punia, had earlier made headlines for their public support of the farmers' protests and their political shift to Congress after Phogat's disqualification from the Paris Olympics.
In the last Assembly elections in 2019, the BJP won 40 seats, forming a coalition government with the JJP, which secured 10 seats. The Congress won 31 seats in that election. However, the political landscape has shifted since then, with the JJP breaking away from the coalition and contesting this election in alliance with the ASP.
As polling continues throughout the day, Haryana's future leadership hangs in the balance, with voters holding the power to determine the political direction of the state for the next five years.
