Haryana is set for a critical assembly election today, with over 2 crore voters expected to cast their ballots across 90 constituencies in a single-phase poll. This election is seen as a tight contest, featuring key political figures such as current chief minister Nayab Singh Saini, former chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, and Olympic medalist Vinesh Phogat. A total of 1,031 candidates, including 101 women and 464 independents, are competing for a place in the assembly.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is aiming for a third consecutive term in power, but faces strong opposition from the Congress and regional parties. The Congress, led by Rahul Gandhi’s campaign, seeks to reclaim power after ten years, building on its recent success in the Lok Sabha elections. Their manifesto promises seven key guarantees, including a legal Minimum Support Price (MSP), a caste survey, and a ₹2,000 monthly allowance for women.
Regional parties are also playing crucial roles. Dushyant Chautala’s Jannayak Janta Party (JJP), a former ally of the BJP, and Arvind Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) are positioning themselves as possible power brokers.
Polling will take place from 7 AM to 6 PM across 20,632 polling stations, with 8,821 centenarian voters expected to participate. The BJP, led by Nayab Singh Saini, remains confident, highlighting the development work over the past decade and stating that Haryana has been transformed into a “developed state” under BJP leadership. Congress, however, has raised critical issues like the Agniveer scheme, farmers’ protests, and the wrestlers’ agitation against the BJP.
The election outcome will determine the future political landscape of Haryana.