Haryana Assembly Elections: Congress Faces Uphill Battle Amid Unmet Promises in Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh

With Haryana’s assembly elections fast approaching, voting is scheduled for October 5, and counting will take place on October 8. After a decade out of power, Congress is making ambitious promises in its bid to regain control. However, the party’s history of unmet commitments could pose a challenge. Congress is contesting 89 of the 90 assembly seats, with CPI(M) retaining its seat in Bhiwani. A majority requires 46 seats.

Congress’s failure to deliver on its promise of waiving farmers’ loans has been a significant issue, particularly in Rajasthan. During a rally in Pokhran on November 26, 2018, Rahul Gandhi vowed that loans would be forgiven within ten days if Congress won the state elections. Despite securing victory, the pledge remained unfulfilled, contributing to the BJP’s win in 2023.

A similar scenario is unfolding in Himachal Pradesh. Congress’s victory in the November 2022 assembly elections was bolstered by 10 major promises, including Priyanka Gandhi’s commitment to create 100,000 jobs. Despite Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu’s first cabinet meeting in January 2023, this promise remains unmet.

Additionally, government employees in Himachal Pradesh have expressed dissatisfaction with delays in pay and benefits. Pensioners from the State Electricity Board have protested unpaid bills, threatening to report their board cards to the Election Commission if payments were not made by December 31.