Haryana Election Results 2024: Why BJP is banking on Ahirwal belt amid Jat discontent even as Congress trails
PTC Web Desk: With diminishing support from the Jat community, the BJP has turned to Haryana’s Ahirwal region to strengthen its position in the state, as it did in the 2014 and 2019 elections. This southern belt, which includes key areas such as Gurgaon, Rewari, and Mahendergarh, has been a reliable stronghold for the BJP since 2014. Current trends suggest that the BJP is on track for its best-ever performance in this region, while the Congress remains a distant contender.
Prominent leaders from the Ahirwal belt, including Gurgaon BJP MP and Union Minister Rao Inderjit Singh, have been central to the party's success. After securing his sixth term as MP earlier this year, Rao Inderjit Singh played a pivotal role in campaigning, with many of his close associates, including his daughter Aarti Rao, receiving party tickets.
In the Lok Sabha Elections held just four months ago, the BJP dominated, winning 10 out of 11 Assembly segments in areas, including Gurugram, Rohtak, and Bhiwani-Mahendergarh. But what makes the Ahirwal belt so crucial?
The Ahirwal region is strategically significant, covering four major Lok Sabha constituencies—Gurgaon, Rewari, Faridabad, and Bhiwani-Mahendergarh. It accounts for 28 of the 90 Assembly seats in Haryana, with over 60% of voters residing in urban centres.
Historically, the BJP's influence in Ahirwal has been strong. In the 2014 Assembly elections, the party won 15 seats in this region. Despite an overall decrease in their tally in the 2019 elections, dropping from 47 to 40 seats in Haryana, the BJP still managed to win 16 seats in Ahirwal.
Key issues for voters in the Ahirwal belt include urban infrastructure challenges, waterlogging in Gurgaon, and other civic concerns. During their campaign, the BJP highlighted the Congress' alleged neglect of the region during Bhupinder Singh Hooda's tenure as Chief Minister, accusing him of prioritising his home constituency of Rohtak in the Jat belt. The BJP also criticised the Congress for sidelining the development prospects of southern Haryana, especially Gurgaon, despite its significant contribution to the state's revenue.
- With inputs from agencies
