Savitri Jindal, India's wealthiest woman, is currently leading in the Hisar assembly seat in Haryana as an independent candidate. She is facing off against BJP's Kamal Gupta, who has previously held the seat. The two rivals are competing once again in the same constituency. Savitri's son, Naveen Jindal, believes she will win with a large margin. Other major parties in the fray include BJP, Congress, AAP, INLD-BSP, and JJP-Azad Samaj Party. The results for the Haryana elections will be announced on October 24th, and early trends show a significant lead for Congress.
As the results/trends for the Haryana Assembly elections in 2024 started pouring in, it became evident that the ruling Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) and the Indian National Congress were in a neck to neck battle for the majority. The BJP, which has been in power for a decade, seems to be leading in seats similar to what it won in the last assembly poll, while the Congress is showing a slight improvement in its tally. The official data from the Election Commission also revealed that 46 is the majority-seat mark in Haryana and any party or alliance would need at least this many seats to stake a claim to form the next government.
The counting of votes for the Sirsa Assembly constituency in Haryana is underway, with Haryana Lokhit Party's Gopal Kanda currently in the lead. In a surprising turn of events, BJP candidate Rohtash Jangra withdrew his candidature and announced his support for Kanda. The poll battle in Sirsa was between Kanda and Congress candidate Gokul Setia, with Kanda receiving the backing of BJP and INLD-Bahujan Samaj Party alliance. The constituency, one of the 90 in Haryana, has witnessed a direct fight between two strong opponents, making it an important seat to watch.
As the votes for Haryana's Assembly Elections are counted, all eyes are on the potential return to power for Congress after a decade in opposition. The state saw a 67.9% voter turnout, with notable faces and key parties like BJP, Congress, AAP, INLD-BSP and JJP-Azad Samaj Party in the fray. With exit polls predicting a potential Congress victory, it could have a significant impact on upcoming state elections in Maharashtra and Jharkhand. Congress leaders Kumari Selja and Deepender Singh Hooda express confidence in their party's prospects, but the final decision on a chief ministerial candidate will be made by the party's high command.
In a surprise political move, Ashok Tanwar, a prominent leader of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Haryana, has joined the Congress party. Tanwar, who was a member of BJP's campaign committee in the state, made his return to Congress official in a public rally attended by party leader Rahul Gandhi. While the reason for his switch remains unclear, the Congress has welcomed Tanwar, stating that his return will strengthen their fight for the rights of Dalits in the state. Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi used the opportunity to amplify the ideological differences between Congress and BJP during a poll rally, citing the mistreatment of women wrestlers in Delhi as an example of BJP's anti-Constitution approach.
Yogeshwar Dutt expresses his disappointment over Vinesh Phogat's joining of Indian National Congress ahead of elections in Haryana, stating that she should have apologized to the entire country for her disqualification in the Paris Olympic Games 2024. Dutt also criticized her for creating a negative atmosphere in the country during the protests last year, and for blaming false conspiracy theories, including involving the Indian Prime Minister. He believes that instead of apologizing, Phogat's actions have only damaged India's image internationally.
Vinesh Phogat, Olympic wrestler, and Bajrang Punia, Indian wrestler, joined the Congress party in New Delhi on September 6, 2024. In response, the party announced Phogat as their candidate for the Julana constituency in the upcoming Haryana Assembly elections. Meanwhile, Punia was appointed as the working chairman of the All India Kisan Congress and is unlikely to run in the Haryana polls. The party also released its first list of candidates for the elections, including former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and State unit chief Udai Bhan.
Talks of a potential alliance between the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Indian National Congress (INC) for the upcoming Haryana Assembly elections seem to have fallen through. Sources within the AAP have stated that the party is planning to contest solo on 50 assembly seats in the state. While the Congress initially expressed interest in exploring an alliance with AAP, the push for a seat-sharing pact has caused intense disagreement within the party, with its state unit strongly opposing the proposal. This development comes as a blow to AAP, which has been unsuccessful in making significant gains in Haryana since its debut in 2014.
Responding to the news of Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia joining the Indian National Congress ahead of the Haryana Assembly Polls, Olympic medalist Sakshi Malik stated that she will not be taking a political plunge like her comrades. Malik, who was at the forefront of the protest against former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, stated that her fight was against him alone and she remains apolitical in order to stay true to the cause of women in wrestling. She also emphasized on the importance of continuing their agitation until the exploitation of women in the sport ends.
Gokul Setia, a 35-year-old politician and grandson of veteran leader Lacchman Dass Arora, formally joins Congress in Haryana. He is expected to be a strong contender against Haryana Lokhit Party's Gopal Kanda in the upcoming assembly elections. Setia, who lost to Kanda in the 2019 election by a narrow margin, had declared assets worth over Rs 16.5 crore. He claims to have been ignored by the state government and is determined to bring attention to his constituency.