BJP secures hat-trick in Haryana, National Conference-Congress alliance triumphs in J&K

PTC News Desk: The BJP staged a dramatic comeback in Haryana, securing a historic third term in the Assembly despite initial leads favoring the Congress, who had started celebrating early. Defying exit polls that predicted a Congress win, the BJP claimed 48 of the 90 seats in the Haryana Assembly, surpassing the majority mark of 46. The Congress won 37 seats, missing its opportunity for a major upset.

This victory marks the BJP’s third consecutive term in Haryana, making it the first party to achieve this feat in the state since its formation in 1966. The result also highlights the decline of the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD), which managed only two seats, and the failure of the Dushyant Chautala-led Jannayak Janta Party (JJP), the BJP’s 2019 ally, to win any seats.

Meanwhile, in Jammu and Kashmir, the National Conference-Congress alliance exceeded expectations, winning 48 of the 90 seats in the first Assembly election held in a decade. The National Conference, led by Farooq Abdullah, emerged as the dominant force, claiming 41 seats, with the Congress securing six.

Omar Abdullah, son of Farooq Abdullah, is now set to become the next Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir. The BJP, which dominated in the Jammu region, secured 29 seats but failed to make significant inroads in the Kashmir Valley, where it faced a disappointing result despite its efforts to transform the region.

The elections also witnessed some notable moments:

• BJP's Strategic Shift in Haryana: BJP's success in Haryana is being credited to its strategic shift, led by Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, who replaced Manohar Lal Khattar. Saini, an OBC leader, spearheaded the party’s outreach to Other Backward Classes (OBCs) and Scheduled Castes (SCs). This move helped the party consolidate the non-Jat vote and overcome anti-incumbency.
• Congress's Missteps: The Congress's focus on Jat leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda and the sidelining of Dalit leader Kumari Selja may have cost the party in Haryana, particularly in the politically crucial Ahirwal belt, which includes key urban centers like Gurugram and Faridabad.
• Farooq Abdullah's Resurgence in J&K: In Jammu and Kashmir, Farooq Abdullah expressed confidence in forming a government and called the results a victory for the people. He stated that the new government would bring 'logon ka raj' (people’s rule), not a 'police raj.'
• AAP's Setback: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) faced a major setback in Haryana, failing to secure any seats. The party’s hopes of securing a foothold in the state were dashed after it was unable to reach a seat-sharing deal with the Congress, its partner in the national INDIA alliance. However, AAP saw a glimmer of hope in Jammu and Kashmir, where its candidate Mehraj Malik won the Doda seat.
• Vinesh Phogat’s Victory: Olympian and Congress candidate Vinesh Phogat won the Julana seat in Haryana on her political debut, securing 64,548 votes and defeating her nearest rival, BJP’s Yogesh Kumar, by 6,553 votes. Phogat’s victory is significant as she had been nominated after her emotional disappointment at the Paris Olympics.
• Congress Complaints: In the wake of the unexpected result in Haryana, the Congress raised concerns about delays in updating election trends. Senior leader Jairam Ramesh accused the Election Commission of an "unacceptable slowdown" in updating its website, implying possible manipulation. However, the Election Commission strongly rejected these allegations, calling them unfounded and dismissing the Congress’s claims as attempts to spin a false narrative.

The BJP’s victory in Haryana and the National Conference’s win in Jammu and Kashmir have sent shockwaves through the opposition, with the results defying pre-election projections.