BJP, Congress set stage for direct contest

Before the canvassing ended at 6 pm, all the parties made the final pitch to woo the voters holding rallies, roadshows, and taking to the social media.

In the last Assembly polls in 2019, the BJP had won 40 seats and the Congress 31. falling six short of the majority mark, the BJP formed the government with the support of JJP ‘s 10 MLAs. However, the alliance ended after BJP replaced Manohar Lal Khattar with Nayab Singh Saini as chief minister in March.

This time JJP is contesting the polls in alliance with the Azad Samaj Party. The other key contesting parties, apart from BJP and Congress, include the AAP and the INLD-BSP alliance. Several Independents, including those who have rebelled against the BJP and Congress on being denied ticket, are contesting on a few seats.

The BJP held 150 rallies, including four addressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and 10 by Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Besides multiple rallies were addressed by over 40 Union ministers, MPs and chief ministers of various states including UP’s Yogi Adityanath who addressed seven public meetings.

The Congress held 70 rallies, including four rallies and two road shows by Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, two rallies and a road show by Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and two rallies by AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge. Chief ministers of Congress ruled states, including Himachal Pradesh’s Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu’, and several former CMs and sitting MPs too campaigned.

For AAP, party national convenor Arvind Kejriwal hit the campaign trail soon after he was released on bail from Tihar jail. Delhi CM Atishi, Punjab’s Bhagwant Mann and ministers from the two states canvassed for the AAP candidates.

Congress, which claims it has got support of all 36 biraadaris, is banking on the rural votes. In Haryana, rural voters comprise nearly 69 per cent of the total electorate. The party’s campaign remained focussed on the ongoing farmers’ protest, the previous agitation at Dehi borders against the now repealed farm laws, the protest by Olympian wrestlers against then WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, the Agnipath scheme, and unemployment and inflation.

The BJP, during its campaign raised several national issues, while accusing Congress of being anti-Dalit, and claiming that the party wants to bringing back Article 370 in J&K. It also highlighted various alleged scams that took place during the previous Congress governments under Bhupinder Singh Hooda from 2005-2014. The party projected Saini, an OBC, as the CM face and highlighted several its policies including MSP on 24 crops, and timely disbursal of crop-loss compensation directly into the bank accounts of farmers.

Manifestos, guarantees

The manifestos of both the parties are almost on the similar lines: both have promised LPG cylinder at Rs 500, 100-sq yrd plots to poor, monthly dole to women — BJP has promised Rs 2,100 and Congress Rs 2,000 per month — filling up 2 lakh vacant posts in the government, and upgradationupgradation of infrastructure etc.
While the BJP has already announced MSP on 24 crops, Congress has announced the “legal guarantee of MSP” to the farmers. Hooda even announced that soon after forming the government, Congress party will open the Shambhu border allowing farmers to peacefully march towards Delhi.

The caste equations

Both the main parties have maintained caste-equations in selection of candidates. Congress has fielded 28 Jat candidates and four Jat-Sikhs, BJP has given ticket to 16 Jat candidates. The Congress has fielded 20 candidates the OBC community, while BJP has fielded 21. Congress has fielded five Brahmins, and BJP 11. From Punjabi community, Congress fielded seven while BJP fielded 13. From Vaishya community, Congress has given ticket to two and the BJP five, from Dalit community both fielded 17 candidates each. Congress has given ticket to five Mulsims and the BJP two, while from Rajput community Congress fielded one and BJP three. From Ror community, Congress fielded one while BJP fielded two candidates.

Other parties

With other parties and several Independents and rebels in the fray, Congress’ biggest worry is about the split in the anti-BJP votes. On the ground, there is anger against the Dushyant Chautala-led JJP on two major points: that he sought votes against the BJP in 2019 and then entered into an alliance with it and second that he did not step down during the year long farmers’ agitation against the farm laws.

The INLD only had won only one seat in 2019, but during the last five years, party leader Abhay Chautala worked across all the constituencies and is now hoping to make a mark. The AAP, which is contesting for the first time on all 90 seats on its own, is hoping that it will also make an entry into the Vidhan Sabha considering that it rules Delhi and Punjab — both neighbouring Haryana.

Despite the fact that there is about 20 per cent Dalit voters in Haryana, the BSP had yet not been able to make any significant mark in the past. ASP, which has tied up with JJP, is a new comer in Haryana.

The last minute moves

Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh was released on 20-day parole from Sunaria prison on October 2. Congress objected to his second release within a span of one month. Dera chief was last released in August and went back to prison on September 2. The Dera has a substantial following in 17-20 seats across Haryana.
Congress inducted dalit leader and BJP’s star campaigner Ashok Tanwar back into the party on Thursday. Tanwar has a significant following in Sirsa’s nine Assembly segments. Congress’ another Dalit leader Kumari Selja swept this year’s Lok Sabha polls in Sirsa by nearly 2.68 lakh votes against nearest rival Tanwar.