5 things to watch out for in Haryana poll results: Cong CM race, Hooda play to BJP’s Saini gamble

Although the Congress high command will eventually pick the CM face in the event of the party’s victory, the aspirants’ claims would also depend on the party’s tally.

Ex-CM Hooda played a leading role in allocation of tickets, getting more than 72 candidates of his choice out of the state’s 90 seats, who are likely to back him for the top job if they win. Hooda also led the Congress’s poll campaign from the front.

Both Selja and Surjewala were not allowed by the Congress leadership to contest the Assembly polls as they are currently members of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha respectively. Deepender also did not contest the Assembly polls as he currently represents the Rohtak parliamentary constituency. All the three MPs would bank on the party central leadership’s verdict if they make their bids for the CM’s chair.

Fallout for BJP

A poll defeat would deal a blow to the BJP, but no party has formed the government in Haryana for three consecutive time. The BJP contested the polls under the leadership of CM Nayab Singh Saini, the party’s OBC face, and state party chief Mohan Lal Badoli, a Brahmin leader.

The BJP attempted to consolidate the non-Jat vote bank, apprehending that Jats might not vote for the party due to farmers’ movement.

The outcome would also indicate the extent of the 10-year “anti-incumbency” against the BJP. In 2019, the BJP’s entire Council of Ministers had lost the polls barring the then CM Manohar Lal Khattar and home minister Anil Vij.

The BJP formed its first government in Haryana by clinching the polls in 2014 with 47 seats. In 2019, it stopped short of a majority by getting 40 seats but managed to form a coalition government with the Dushyant Chautala-led JJP.

This time, the BJP leadership tried to offset “anti-incumbency” by replacing Khattar, a Punjabi face, with Saini as the CM in March this year. It also sought to project Saini as its CM face in the polls. Its move would be tested by the poll results.

Other parties, alliances & Independents

To contest the Haryana elections, the JJP joined hands with the Azad Samaj Party (Kanshi Ram) while the INLD forged an alliance with the BSP. After its alliance talks with the Congress fell through, the Aam Aadmi Party went solo.

However, the polls seem to have been a straight fight between the BJP and the Congress, with the exit polls also predicting a washout of other players.

The poll results would be crucial for determining the future of regional parties JJP and Om Prakash Chautala-led INLD, even as it would also reflect the AAP’s standing in the party founder Arvind Kejriwal’s home state.

Several prominent Independents are also in the fray, which include BJP rebels Ranjit Singh (Rania) and Savitri Jindal (Hisar) besides Congress rebel Chitra Sarwara (Ambala Cantonment).

After winning the 2019 polls as an Independent, Ranjit supported the BJP and was inducted in the government as the power minister. He officially joined the BJP ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, unsuccessfully contested from Hisar and left the party to contest as an Independent again after being denied the party ticket.

Independent legislator from Meham, Balraj Kundu, who did not align with any party, is also contesting from his seat.

Key poll issues

The Congress’s campaign revolved around issues such as unemployment, Agnipath, farmers’ agitation, wrestlers’ protest and several alleged scams that came to light during the last 10 years.

The BJP, on the other hand, banked on its various schemes, timely disbursement of social security pensions, crop loss compensation, and crop-procurement at the minimum support price (MSP).

Another issue that caused a row in the state was related to the government’s e-initiatives for public such as the Parivar Pehchan Patra and Meri Fasal Mera Byora portals. The BJP faced a backlash, with the Congress pledging their shutdown after returning to the helm.

Star candidates and dynasts

Olympian wrestler Vinesh Phogat’s debut fight from the Julana seat on the Congress’s ticket is one of the most keenly-watched contests in this election.

The women wrestlers’ protracted protest last year – over alleged sexual assault by then BJP MP and Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh – and Vinesh’s disqualification ahead of her final match for the gold medal at the recent Paris Olympics, seem to have created a massive resonance among the Julana voters.
In the spotlight are also several young candidates belonging to some prominent political families of the state. They include ex-CM Bansi Lal’s grand-daughter Shruti Choudhry and grandson Anirudh Choudhry in the Tosham seat in addition to former CM Chautala’s son Abhay Chautala in Ellenabad, grandsons Dushyant Chautala in Uchana Kalan, Digvijay Chautala in Dabwali, and Arjun Chautala in Rania.