Haryana Polls: CM Nayab Saini Confident of BJP’s Victory Despite Exit Polls

In response to exit poll projections suggesting a tough battle ahead, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini confidently declared on Sunday that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will form the government “alone.” He emphasized that the party has “all the arrangements” in place and does not anticipate needing any alliances. “I am confident that BJP will alone form the government, but if we need that (alliance) we will give it a thought,” he stated during a press conference.

EVM Blame from Opposition Anticipated

CM Saini remarked that the BJP is poised to secure a full majority while predicting that the opposition, particularly the Congress, will blame Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) for their loss. He stated, “The public will respond on the 8th and the Congress will say the EVM is faulty.”

During his address, Saini extended his gratitude to party workers and leadership for their efforts in the assembly campaign. He thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP national president JP Nadda, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh for their guidance. He expressed appreciation for the millions of party workers in Haryana who helped communicate the government’s initiatives.

Highlighting Governance Achievements

Saini asserted that the BJP’s governance, described as a “double-engine government,” has significantly improved citizens’ lives compared to the previous Congress administration. He mentioned how residents previously faced difficulties, such as waiting several days for gas cylinders, and stated that the current government has worked to eliminate such issues while serving all communities without discrimination.

The Chief Minister also recognized the efforts of Haryana police and paramilitary personnel for conducting peaceful elections. He praised the 2.8 crore people of Haryana for participating in the democratic process and maintaining social harmony during the elections.

Despite Saini’s optimism, exit polls suggest a challenging outlook for the BJP. Various projections indicate a significant win for Congress, with estimates of 44-64 seats for the party in the 90-member assembly, while the BJP is projected to secure only 15-32 seats. The majority mark to form a government is 46 seats.

The single-phase polling for the Haryana Assembly concluded peacefully on Saturday, with a recorded voter turnout of 65.65%. This figure surpasses the Lok Sabha 2024 turnout of 64.8% in the state, according to the Election Commission of India.