As Haryana prepares for the much-anticipated counting of votes for the 2024 Assembly elections, both the ruling BJP and principal opposition party Congress are poised for a fiercely contested result on Tuesday. The counting will begin at 8 am. With 1,031 candidates contesting across all 90 assembly seats, the 2024 Haryana election promises intense competition, particularly for several high-profile figures. Chief Minister Nayab Saini, locked in a fierce battle in Ladwa, faces one of the most watched contests, while wrestler-turned-politician Vinesh Phogat makes her electoral debut from Julana.
This election will also determine the future of Haryana’s political dynasties, as several candidates from prominent families seek to carry forward their legacies. Among them are Aarti Rao, daughter of Union Minister Rao Inderjit Singh; Shruti Choudhary, daughter of Rajya Sabha MP Kiran Choudhary; Aditya Surjewala, son of senior Congress leader Randeep Surjewala; Brijendra Singh, son of former Union Minister Birender Singh; Vikas Saharan, son of Congress MP Jai Prakash; and Anirudh Choudhary, son of former BCCI chairman Ranbir Mahendra , Bhavya Bishnoi-son of former MP and MLA Kuldeep Bishnoi. Other key figures include Pooja Choudhary, wife of Congress MP Varun Mullana; Dushyant and Digvijay Chautala, sons of former INLD MP Ajay Chautala; Arjun Chautala, son of INLD’s lone MLA Abhay Chautala; and Chitra Sarwara, daughter of former minister Nirmal Singh.
The election outcome will not only shape Haryana’s political landscape but also decide whether the next generation of these influential families can earn the trust and support of the electorate.
All 90 assembly seats in Haryana went to the polls in a single phase on October 5, witnessing a voter turnout of 67.90%. The state has been a key battleground for the BJP, which has held power since 2014, and Congress, which is striving to return to office after ten years in the opposition. Alongside these two heavyweight parties, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Jannayak Janata Party (JJP) in alliance with Azad Samaj Party, and Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) in alliance with Bahujan Samaj Party are also vying for influence in this election, besides several independents.
For the BJP, which has ruled the state since 2014, this election is a test of its ability to overcome significant anti-incumbency sentiments and various socio-economic issues. The party faces considerable challenges, including dissatisfaction among farmers and job seekers, which has been a persistent theme throughout the campaign. On the other side, Congress, led by veteran leader and former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, seeks to capitalize on this discontent and regain power after a decade in opposition.
Both parties see this election as pivotal. The results will not only decide the immediate future of Haryana but also set the tone for their respective strategies in the upcoming general elections, especially in Maharashtra, Jharkhand and Delhi.
Most exit polls released over the weekend predict a Congress victory, with the party expected to secure between 49 and 55 seats, surpassing the majority mark of 46 needed to form the government. In the 2019 elections, the BJP won 40 seats, forming the government in a post-poll alliance with the Jannayak Janata Party (JJP) and seven independent MLAs. However, the alliance has since dissolved, and the BJP now stands alone.
