CHANDIGARH: Till Monday evening, it was like a Test match with a predictable end. On Tuesday, Haryana election results turned into a T20 bout, swinging wildly from a perceived Congress sweep to a winning show by BJP , which beat strong anti-incumbency, a buoyant opposition following a good Lok Sabha outing and exit polls to be back in governance for a record third straight term in the state.
BJP secured 48 seats, eight more than its 2019 result, achieving a comfortable majority in the 90-member assembly. The party surpassed its 2014 score, when it formed the govt on its own for the first time with 47 seats. Congress claimed 37 seats, Indian National Lok Dal ( INLD ) two, and Independents won in three constituencies.
Congress increased its vote share by 11 percentage points and its overall share of 39.09% was almost at par with BJP’s 39.89%.
Yet, the results came as a rude shock for Congress, which had been in celebratory mood since exit polls predicted its return with a huge majority. The party was outmanoeuvred by BJP’s strategy of focusing on OBC voters and division in Dalit votes.
Congress had its own share of problems too — from overconfidence in its ranks and internal factionalism, particularly between former CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda and its Dalit face Kumari Selja, to making Hooda (and by default his son Deepender) responsible for all decisions in the state unit. Miscalculations in ticket distribution and lack of an organised grassroots cadre, added to the dismal show. As many as 15 sitting Congress MLAs were defeated in the election.
The result also ended the “Hooda mystique” as, despite being given a free hand in choosing candidates and managing nominations for 72 of his supporters, he failed to capitalise on anti-incumbency against the 10-year BJP governance in Haryana.
Hooda, who retained his seat by over 71,000 votes, said on Tuesday evening that the results have come as a surprise for the BJP too. “We are surprised by the results, and it’s not just us — even BJP is surprised by this mandate. This is how democracy works. We lost some seats by very thin margin, but it has been a shocking and unexpected outcome for us. At some places, there were complaints of problems in EVMs for which a Congress delegation would meet EC,” he said.
Sirsa MP Kumari Selja, who was at loggerheads with Hooda during the campaign, described the Haryana results as “extremely disappointing.”
“Our workers put in long hours, went to villages with the message of Rahul Gandhi. But, with these results, it looks like all their efforts have gone to waste. The party needs to take note of this. The party will have to introspect. Such an outcome should not have happened,” she said.
The BJP narrative of ‘parchi and kharchi’, accusing Congress of planning to fill govt jobs by favouritism or corruption, appeared to have worked. On the contrary, issues highlighted by Congress and Rahul Gandhi — from farmers’ agitation and wrestlers’ protest to OPS and Agniveer — failed to bring dividends.
In contrast, Congress highlighting these issues during the Lok Sabha polls earlier this year helped them win five out of 10 seats. Wrestler Vinesh Phogat, however, managed to win in Julana by over 6,000 votes.
INLD, which saw a minor surge in its vote bank this time, also became a stumbling block for Congress, especially where its candidates lost by a thin margin due to INLD nominees.
The Congress high command has called a meeting of party MLAs on Wednesday, Rajya Sabha MP Randeep Surjewala said. “Congress president and senior leadership called me to discuss some aspects,” Surjewala said.
PM Narendra Modi thanked the people of Haryana for reposing their trust in the BJP. “I salute the people of Haryana for giving a clear majority to the BJP once again. This is the victory of the politics of development and good governance,” he posted on his X handle. The BJP govt would work tirelessly for the people of Haryana, he said, adding: “We will leave no stone unturned to fulfil their aspirations.”
The results completely decimated Dushyant Chautala-led Jannayak Janata party (JJP) and AAP, which could not even open its account on any seat. Abhay Chautala led INLD, however, managed to secure two seats in its home district of Sirsa and emerged the third party in the assembly. However, both Dushyant and Abhay lost their elections.
BJP secured 48 seats, eight more than its 2019 result, achieving a comfortable majority in the 90-member assembly. The party surpassed its 2014 score, when it formed the govt on its own for the first time with 47 seats. Congress claimed 37 seats, Indian National Lok Dal ( INLD ) two, and Independents won in three constituencies.
Congress increased its vote share by 11 percentage points and its overall share of 39.09% was almost at par with BJP’s 39.89%.
Yet, the results came as a rude shock for Congress, which had been in celebratory mood since exit polls predicted its return with a huge majority. The party was outmanoeuvred by BJP’s strategy of focusing on OBC voters and division in Dalit votes.
Congress had its own share of problems too — from overconfidence in its ranks and internal factionalism, particularly between former CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda and its Dalit face Kumari Selja, to making Hooda (and by default his son Deepender) responsible for all decisions in the state unit. Miscalculations in ticket distribution and lack of an organised grassroots cadre, added to the dismal show. As many as 15 sitting Congress MLAs were defeated in the election.
The result also ended the “Hooda mystique” as, despite being given a free hand in choosing candidates and managing nominations for 72 of his supporters, he failed to capitalise on anti-incumbency against the 10-year BJP governance in Haryana.
Hooda, who retained his seat by over 71,000 votes, said on Tuesday evening that the results have come as a surprise for the BJP too. “We are surprised by the results, and it’s not just us — even BJP is surprised by this mandate. This is how democracy works. We lost some seats by very thin margin, but it has been a shocking and unexpected outcome for us. At some places, there were complaints of problems in EVMs for which a Congress delegation would meet EC,” he said.
Sirsa MP Kumari Selja, who was at loggerheads with Hooda during the campaign, described the Haryana results as “extremely disappointing.”
“Our workers put in long hours, went to villages with the message of Rahul Gandhi. But, with these results, it looks like all their efforts have gone to waste. The party needs to take note of this. The party will have to introspect. Such an outcome should not have happened,” she said.
The BJP narrative of ‘parchi and kharchi’, accusing Congress of planning to fill govt jobs by favouritism or corruption, appeared to have worked. On the contrary, issues highlighted by Congress and Rahul Gandhi — from farmers’ agitation and wrestlers’ protest to OPS and Agniveer — failed to bring dividends.
In contrast, Congress highlighting these issues during the Lok Sabha polls earlier this year helped them win five out of 10 seats. Wrestler Vinesh Phogat, however, managed to win in Julana by over 6,000 votes.
INLD, which saw a minor surge in its vote bank this time, also became a stumbling block for Congress, especially where its candidates lost by a thin margin due to INLD nominees.
The Congress high command has called a meeting of party MLAs on Wednesday, Rajya Sabha MP Randeep Surjewala said. “Congress president and senior leadership called me to discuss some aspects,” Surjewala said.
PM Narendra Modi thanked the people of Haryana for reposing their trust in the BJP. “I salute the people of Haryana for giving a clear majority to the BJP once again. This is the victory of the politics of development and good governance,” he posted on his X handle. The BJP govt would work tirelessly for the people of Haryana, he said, adding: “We will leave no stone unturned to fulfil their aspirations.”
The results completely decimated Dushyant Chautala-led Jannayak Janata party (JJP) and AAP, which could not even open its account on any seat. Abhay Chautala led INLD, however, managed to secure two seats in its home district of Sirsa and emerged the third party in the assembly. However, both Dushyant and Abhay lost their elections.
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