The Haryana Assembly Election, set for October-November 2024, is shaping up to be high-voltage. The 90-seat Haryana Legislative Assembly is finishing its term on November 3, 2024, and the political stakes are higher than ever.
Who is in the Race?
Nayab Singh Saini is leading the charge for the BJP. The BJP had a strong showing in the 2019 elections, winning 40 seats and forming a coalition government with the Jannayak Janta Party (JJP). In the run-up to the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP broke its alliance with the JJP and formed a government with the support of independent MLAs. On March 12, 2024, BJP State President Nayab Singh Saini was sworn in as the Haryana Chief Minister after Manohar Lal Khattar and his cabinet ministers resigned from their posts.
Bhupinder Singh Hooda, the experienced Congress leader, is gearing up for a major push too. With 30 seats in the outgoing assembly, the Congress wants a strong comeback.
Dushyant Chautala’s JJP, which secured 10 seats last time, is expected to play a pivotal role in the formation of the next government. Their coalition with BJP in 2019 was crucial, and they might be the game-changers again.
Other players include the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD), Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Haryana Lokhit Party, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) are all gearing up to make their mark.
Current political situation before the Haryana Assembly election
In a significant political development, former Haryana Congress leader Kiran Choudhry, along with her daughter Shruti Choudhry, has joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The decision comes ahead of the Haryana assembly election scheduled to be held later this year.
Kiran Choudhry, aged 69, and her daughter Shruti officially joined the BJP during an event held at the party’s office. The ceremony was attended by prominent leaders, including Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, former Chief Minister and Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, and BJP National General Secretary Tarun Chugh.
Kiran Choudhry, who is the daughter-in-law of late former Haryana Chief Minister and Congress stalwart Bansi Lal, cited leadership issues within the Congress as the reason for her decision to switch parties. In her resignation letter to Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge, she expressed dissatisfaction with the state unit’s functioning, describing it as a “personal fiefdom” of certain individuals.
Talking about the BJP, in the recent 2024 Lok Sabha elections, it faced a significant setback. The “Modi wave” that helped it sweep Haryana’s seats in 2019 failed to resonate with the electorate this time. The BJP managed to retain only five seats, and their vote share dropped from over 58% to around 46%. In contrast, the Congress made a strong comeback, gaining five seats and increasing their vote share from 28.42% to 43.68%.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has taken a significant step ahead of the upcoming Haryana Assembly election, which are expected to be held in October or November this year. In a letter dated June 17, BJP National General Secretary and Headquarters In-Charge Arun Singh announced the appointment of Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan as the state election in-charge for Haryana. Additionally, former Tripura Chief Minister and MP Biplab Kumar Deb will serve as the state election co-incharge.
The BJP’s decision comes after the party faced challenges in the recent Lok Sabha polls, where it lost five out of the ten seats in Haryana. Concerns have arisen about the party’s support among major caste groups, and the BJP is particularly eyeing the influential Jat community. Biplab Kumar Deb, who previously served as the in-charge during the Lok Sabha elections, brings experience and strategic insight to the role.
भगवान जगन्नाथ की पावन भूमि से आए हमारे विधानसभा चुनाव प्रभारी केंद्रीय मंत्री श्री @dpradhanbjp जी,सह प्रभारी लोकसभा सांसद श्री @BjpBiplab जी और केंद्रीय ऊर्जा मंत्री श्री @mlkhattar जी की मौजूदगी में सभी नवनिर्वाचित सांसदों का रोहतक स्थित @BJP4Haryana प्रदेश कार्यालय मंगल कमल… pic.twitter.com/KBVdtdY9JZ
— Nayab Saini (@NayabSainiBJP) June 23, 2024
The BJP’s choice of Dharmendra Pradhan and Biplab Kumar Deb as election in-charge and co-incharge reflects the party’s determination to secure victory in Haryana. As Haryana Assembly Election approaches, all eyes will be on the BJP’s campaign strategies and its ability to regain ground in the state.
Jats, a dominant community in Haryana, account for around 27% of the population. Historically influential, they hold sway in key districts like Hisar, Bhiwani, and Rohtak.
All major competitors—the Congress, Indian National Lok Dal (INLD), and Jannayak Janta Party (JJP)—have Jat leaders at the helm. In 2014, the BJP ignored Jats and installed a Khatri Punjabi (ML Khattar) as Chief Minister. This non-dominant caste appeasement strategy may now pose challenges.
The split of opposition votes between the Congress, JJP, and INLD could work in the BJP’s favor. However, the Congress-Jats alliance remains a potent force.
This election is not just about who wins the most seats. It’s about who can address the real issues of the people, who can promise and deliver on their commitments, and who can lead Haryana into a prosperous future.
As October-November 2024 approaches, all eyes are on the Haryana Assembly Election. The political landscape is charged with anticipation, and the battle for the ballot boxes is set to be a memorable one.
