By Tuesday, October 8, the new leadership of Haryana and Jammu & Kashmir will emerge, marking a significant turning point. Vote counting in both regions is set to commence at 8 AM. The necessary security protocols are firmly in place. Pankaj Aggarwal, Haryana's Chief Electoral Officer, confirmed the implementation of a three-tier security plan at the counting centers. In both Haryana and Jammu & Kashmir, residents voted for 90 assembly seats. Jammu & Kashmir underwent three phases of voting on September 18, September 25, and October 1, whereas, in Haryana, voters cast their ballots in a single phase on October 5. The BJP has held power in Haryana for the last decade, while Jammu & Kashmir held elections after 10 years.
An official statement by Pankaj Aggarwal, Haryana's Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), announced the establishment of 93 counting centers across 22 districts for Haryana's 90 assembly constituencies. Special arrangements, including two counting centers each, have been made for Badshahpur, Gurugram, and Pataudi constituencies, while the remaining 87 constituencies will have one center each. The Election Commission of India (ECI) has appointed 90 counting observers to supervise the process.
Counting Procedure Begins with Postal Ballots
The first stage of counting involves postal ballots, followed 30 minutes later by counting electronic voting machines (EVMs). The CEO assured timely updates on the progress of each counting round. Every strong room will open in the presence of candidates, authorized representatives, returning officers (ROs)/assistant returning officers (AROs), and ECI observers, with the entire process recorded on video. Mobile phones will not be allowed inside counting centers.
Who Will Win in Haryana?
Haryana, with its 90 assembly seats, witnessed a staggering 1031 candidates in the fray, comprising 930 men and 101 women. Voting in Haryana took place on October 5 across all seats in a single phase. According to provisional figures released by the Election Commission, over 66.96% of voters exercised their franchise. The state set up 20,632 polling stations, with 13,500 in rural and 7,132 in urban areas.
BJP and Congress Locked Horns on 89 Seats Each
In the intense Haryana elections, the Aam Aadmi Party contested alone, while Congress joined hands with the CPI and BJP allied with Gopal Kanda's Haryana Lokhit Party. Congress ceded the Bhiwani seat to the CPI in the final moments before nominations closed. BJP made a sole concession to HALOPA for Kanda's seat. Dushyant Chautala's Jannayak Janata Party (JJP) teamed up with Advocate Chandrashekhar's Azad Samaj Party (ASP), contesting 70 seats, with ASP fielding candidates for 20. The Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) allied with Mayawati's Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), running for 53 and 37 seats, respectively.
Source: aajtak
Past Election Results in Snapshot
In the 2019 elections, BJP emerged as the largest party with a 36.5% vote share, securing 40 seats. Congress came second with a 28.1% vote share, winning 31 seats. JJP achieved third place by winning 10 seats with a 14.8% vote share. INLD managed to bag one seat with a 2.1% vote share, while others secured 8 seats with an 18.2% vote share.
Election Dynamics Shifting
The current Haryana elections differ from those in 2019 in many aspects, including alliances and campaign themes. Major issues such as farmers and sports personalities resonated strongly. This time, JJP joined forces with ASP, while INLD allied with BSP. The Aam Aadmi Party stood independently, while BJP and Congress both allotted a single seat to their allies.
Key Figures and Their Gambits
Remarkable personalities such as BJP's CM candidate Nayab Singh Saini contest from Ladwa, Anil Vij from Ambala Cantt, JP Dalal from Loharu in Bhiwani, and Shruti Chaudhary from Tosham. Congress fields Bhupinder Singh Hooda from Garhi Sampla-Kiloi, Vinesh Phogat from Julana, Uday Bhan from Hodal, and Chandramohan Bishnoi from Panchkula. Competitors like Amit Sihag from Dabwali and Chiranjiv Rao from Rewari represent Congress in these high-stakes regional contests.
Touted figures for the JJP include Dushyant Chautala from Uchana and Digvijay Chautala from Dabwali, with INLD's Abhay Singh Chautala contesting from Ellenabad. The Aam Aadmi Party introduces former racer Kavita Dalal at Julana while independent figures like Ranjeet Chautala from Sirsa and Chitra Sarwara from Ambala are vying for positions.
The Battle for Jammu & Kashmir's 90 Seats
In Jammu & Kashmir, a total of 90 seats await contenders. Seven seats are reserved for Scheduled Castes (SC) and nine for Scheduled Tribes (ST), summing to 16 reserved seats. Region-wise, the Jammu region houses 43 assembly constituencies, while Kashmir Valley claims 47. Elections occurred in three stages; the first on September 18 for 24 seats, the second on September 26 for 26 seats, and the third on October 1 for 40 seats. Overall turnout was recorded at 63.88%, with enthusiasm particularly strong among women, achieving a 70.02% participation rate compared to 69.37% for men.
Each Party's Campaign Efforts Across Jammu & Kashmir
The BJP focused heavily on Jammu, fielding candidates in all 43 seats. However, only 19 candidates were presented in Kashmir Valley. The rest received support from independents or minor parties. Congress and the National Conference entered the ring together, while Awami Ittihad Party, led by Engineer Rashid, joined forces with Jamaat-e-Islami. Parties like Sajjad Lone's Jammu & Kashmir People's Conference, Apni Party, and Mehbooba Mufti's People’s Democratic Party (PDP) ran independently. Some seats even saw Aam Aadmi Party contestants.
Reflecting on Past Results
A decade ago, during Jammu & Kashmir's last assembly elections, PDP led as the major party with 28 seats, holding a 22.7% vote share, while BJP captured 25 seats with a 23% vote share, ranking second. National Conference earned 15 seats with a 20.8% share, and Congress managed 12 seats with an 18% share. Other parties, including People’s Conference and CPI(M), trailed with fewer seats. The elections resulted in no absolute majority for any single party.
Assessing the New Electoral Dynamics
Unlike previous dynamics, Jammu & Kashmir transitioned from a full state to a union territory. The increased number of assembly seats from 87 to 90, with 43 in Jammu and 47 in Kashmir, reflects significant shifts. Notably, this election marks the first reservation of seats for SC and ST communities.
High-Profilers and Election Strategies
This election features influential figures like Iltija Mufti from the Mufti family, debuting in electoral politics. Engineer Rashid's party, buoyed by a victory in Baramulla, fielded several contestants in the valley. Meanwhile, well-known individuals such as Afzal Guru's brother Aijaz Guru and prominent figures like Syed Saleem Gilani, Doctor Talat Majid, and Aga Syed Muntazir bring drama and anticipation to this vibrant electoral battleground.
