Haryana Assembly Polls Live: As polling began for the Haryana assembly elections on Saturday morning, Chief Minister and BJP leader Nayab Singh Saini sharply criticised the Congress, accusing it of engaging in the politics of lies. He expressed confidence in forming the government for a third consecutive term. “We are winning and forming our government for the third time with a huge margin. Congress does the politics of lies, they lied during Lok Sabha elections that the Constitution and reservation will be finished. Rahul Gandhi has the biggest role in ending reservations,” he said. Meanwhile, the voter turnout stands at 61 per cent till 5 pm.
Nayab Saini accused Congress of playing the politics of “jhooth and loot”, while Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda expressed confidence that his party would win a strong majority in the upcoming elections. Former Haryana Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala also showed faith in his alliance with the Aazad Samaj Party (Kanshi Ram), stating that their coalition would achieve significant success. Meanwhile, wrestler-turned-politician Vinesh Phogat emphasised that the people had not forgotten the BJP’s treatment of farmers and praised Hooda for improving sports in the state.
Results of past assembly polls in Haryana: In 2014, the BJP ended the Congress’s decade-long rule under former CM Bhupinder Hooda, riding the “Modi wave” after the Lok Sabha polls. The saffron party secured 33.3% of the vote (47 seats) and formed the government in Haryana with CM Manohar Lal Khattar. The Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) became the second-largest party with 19 seats, followed by Congress with 15. However, in the 2019 assembly elections, the BJP fell short of a majority, winning 40 seats despite increasing its vote share to 36.5%. The JJP, which split from the INLD in 2018, made its debut with 10 seats and allied with the BJP to form a coalition government. The Congress won 31 seats and became the Opposition.
Paris Olympics double medallist shooter Manu Bhaker along with her parents Ram Kishan Bhaker and Sumedha Bhaker and brother Akhil Bhaker cast their right to vote at their ancestral village of Goria in Jhajjar. (Photo: Special arrangement)
Congress candidate from Julana Assembly Constituency Vinesh Phogat arrived at a polling station in Charkhi Dadri to cast her vote for the assembly polls.
"It is a huge festival for Haryana and a very big day for the people of the state. I am making an appeal to the people of the state to come out and cast their votes. 10 years ago, when Bhupinder Hooda was the CM, the level of sports in the state was really good. It is not in my hands (to become a minister), it is in the hands of the high command..." she said speaking to the media.
Former Haryana Chief Minister and Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar stated on Saturday that his party, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), is confident of winning more than 50 seats in the Haryana assembly elections.
"We will get more than 50 seats this time." Further assuring the BJP's win in Haryana polls, he said that the result of the polls will be out by the afternoon of 8 October.
"I am feeling good; we will form the government for the third time," he added.
When asked about a Congress leader's involvement in a drug bust case, he said that the nature of the Congress is to support such kind of people.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday requested the voters of Haryana to cast their ballots in record numbers for the assembly polls.
"I appeal to all voters to be a part of this sacred festival of democracy and create a new voting record," Modi said in a post on X, wishing young voters who are using their franchise for the first time.
"This time we are in alliance with the Azad Samaj Party and we will get good numbers,” said Haryana Deputy CM and JJP's candidate from Uchana Kalan seat, Dushyant Chautala. He along with his wife and mother cast vote at a polling booth in Sirsa.
"This is a big festival of democracy and I make this appeal to the people of Haryana that their vote will decide the future of Haryana, so you all come out of your houses and cast maximum votes till 6 PM. We are confident that the way we have worked for Haryana, our alliance will get a huge majority and our partners will be given a chance to work for the development of Haryana...All 90 constituencies are the same and the party workers have put in a lot of effort. I am sure that we will get more votes than in the last election..."
Taking on Dushyant Chautala from Uchana is the Congress's Brijendra Singh, son of former Union minister Birender Singh.
After casting his vote in Faridabad, Union Minister Krishan Pal Gurjar said: “BJP government is going to be formed in Haryana for the third time. BJP has given transparent and honest governance. People of Haryana have seen a government that gives development and good governance for the first time... Earlier in Haryana, ministers used to go to jail every day. People of Haryana have faith in Modi as well as BJP."
BJP leader Kuldeep Bishnoi, his son and wife show victory signs after casting their vote for the Haryana elections. His son Bhavya Bishnoi is BJP's candidate from Adampur Assembly constituency.
Former Haryana CM and BJP leader Manohar Lal Khattar casts his vote in Karnal.
"I appeal to all voters to participate in this enthusiastically and set a new record by making this festival of democracy a success," he wrote on X.
As polling began for the Haryana assembly elections on Saturday morning, Chief Minister and BJP leader Nayab Singh Saini sharply criticised the Congress, accusing it of engaging in the politics of lies. He expressed confidence in forming the government for a third consecutive term.
“We are winning and forming our government for the third time with a huge margin. Congress does the politics of lies, they lied during Lok Sabha elections that the Constitution and reservation will be finished. Rahul Gandhi has the biggest role in ending reservations,” he said.
"It is the BJP government that has given MSP to farmers on all 24 crops. Congress should tell people if they have done anything like that in the states where they have their government. AAP, which has a government in Punjab should also tell people on how many crops they are giving MSP there".
-- A total of 1,031 candidates are contesting the election. These include 101 women and 464 Independent nominees.
-- A total of 20,632 polling booths have been set up,
-- Besides the BJP and the Congress, the key contesting parties are the Aam Aadmi PArty (AAP) and the INLD-BSP and JJP-Azad Samaj Party alliances.
-- Haryana's Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Pankaj Agarwal said 2,03,54,350 voters, including 8,821 centurions, are eligible to exercise their franchise.
-- In the 2019 Assembly polls, the BJP won 40 seats, the Congress 31 and the Jannayak Janta Party (JJP) 10.
Voting began on Saturday morning for all 90 assembly seats in Haryana, with the BJP aiming for a hat trick of election wins in the state, while the Congress hopes to return to power after 10 years.
The fate of Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, Congress leaders Bhupinder Singh Hooda and Vinesh Phogat, JJP's Dushyant Chautala, and 1,027 other candidates will be determined in the polls. Over two crore people are eligible to vote.
The counting of votes will be taken up on October 8.
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