The stage is set for the Haryana Assembly elections as campaigning officially concluded today, October 3, at 6 PM. With just two days left before polling on October 5, political parties have wrapped up their last-minute efforts to woo voters across the state. This election will see voters across all 90 constituencies casting their ballots, with the results slated to be announced on October 8.
Campaigning Frenzy Across Haryana
Over the past few weeks, national and regional political leaders have been actively campaigning across Haryana, holding rallies, addressing public meetings, and making promises to sway voters. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Indian National Congress (INC), and several regional parties, including the Jannayak Janta Party (JJP), Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), and Indian National Lok Dal (INLD), are all vying for power in the state.
The Election Commission had initially set October 1 as the polling date, but after taking into consideration feedback from local political parties and the public, the polling date was revised to October 5. Counting of votes will take place on October 8.
Key Players and Prominent Candidates
The BJP, led by Chief Minister Naib Singh Saini, is aiming for a hat-trick by winning the state assembly elections for a third consecutive term. The Congress, having been out of power for two terms, is making a strong effort to reclaim its position in the state. In the 2019 elections, the BJP secured 40 seats, while the Congress won 31 seats. This time around, the competition is fiercer than ever.
Prominent candidates in the fray include Bhupendra Singh Hooda from Congress (Garhi Sampla-Kiloi), Abhay Singh Chautala from INLD (Elnabad), Dushyant Chautala from JJP (Uchana), and BJP stalwarts Anil Vij (Ambala Cat) and OP Dhankhar (Badla). Other notable candidates include wrestler-turned-politician Vinesh Phogat, contesting from Jhulana on a BJP ticket.
Election Issues and Manifestos
Both the BJP and Congress have focused on similar issues in their election manifestos, pledging to improve the lives of women, youth, farmers, and the underprivileged. The BJP has campaigned on the strength of its “double-engine government,” promising financial assistance of ₹2,100 per month to women, employment for two lakh youths, and guaranteed government jobs for Agniveer candidates. On the other hand, the Congress has made seven promises, including providing support prices for farmers and financial aid of ₹2,000 per month for women.
As the campaign wrapped up, BJP leaders called on voters to disregard the “false promises” made by the Congress in other states, such as Himachal Pradesh, Telangana, and Karnataka. Meanwhile, Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and Bhupendra Singh Hooda, raised concerns about unemployment, farmer issues, and last year’s violence. Gandhi also accused the BJP government of undermining the Constitution.
AAP’s Presence and Regional Politics
The Aam Aadmi Party, led by its national coordinator Arvind Kejriwal, also threw its hat into the ring in Haryana. Kejriwal addressed rallies, claiming that the BJP had tried to undermine his government in Delhi. He expressed confidence that no government would be formed in Haryana without AAP’s support.
Regional leaders like Dushyant Chautala of JJP and Abhay Singh Chautala of INLD also campaigned hard, hoping to secure enough seats to play a decisive role in the formation of the next government.
Polling and Security Arrangements
Haryana has over two crore registered voters, and the Election Commission has set up 20,629 polling booths to facilitate the voting process. Among the 1,031 candidates contesting the election, 101 are women. The state election commission has made extensive arrangements to ensure smooth polling and counting processes, with security personnel deployed across the state to prevent any untoward incidents.
The district police and central forces have been mobilized to maintain law and order. Special measures, including geo-tagging for children and the elderly and enhanced CCTV surveillance, have been put in place to ensure security at polling booths and in public spaces.
Conclusion
As campaigning ends, Haryana is now bracing for a highly anticipated electoral battle. With promises of development, welfare, and reform from both the BJP and Congress, the outcome of this election will be crucial in determining the political future of the state. As voters prepare to cast their ballots on October 5, the atmosphere is charged with excitement and anticipation.
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