Polling for the Haryana Assembly elections kicked off on Saturday, with over 2.03 crore voters eligible to choose from 1,031 candidates vying for seats in the 90-member legislative assembly.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to social media, encouraging citizens to make their voices heard and participate in what he termed a sacred festival of democracy.
In his message on X, PM Modi emphasized the importance of voting, stating, “Today is the voting day for the Haryana Assembly elections. I appeal to all voters to be a part of this sacred festival of democracy and set a new record for voter turnout. My special wishes to all the young friends of the state who are voting for the first time on this occasion.”
आज हरियाणा विधानसभा चुनाव के लिए वोटिंग है। सभी मतदाताओं से मेरी अपील है कि वे लोकतंत्र के इस पावन उत्सव का हिस्सा बनें और मतदान का एक नया रिकॉर्ड कायम करें। इस अवसर पर पहली बार वोट डालने जा रहे राज्य के सभी युवा साथियों को मेरी विशेष शुभकामनाएं।
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 5, 2024
Union Home Minister Amit Shah echoed this sentiment, urging residents to prioritize their civic duty before enjoying their breakfast.
His campaign efforts aimed at securing a third consecutive victory for the BJP in Haryana wer underscored by his remarks, asserting, “The brave people of Haryana are going to vote in the state today. Your vote will help keep Haryana free from corruption, deals, and a system of nepotism.”
“I urge all sisters and brothers to definitely vote to maintain the momentum of development and to choose a government that takes governance beyond a single district to every village in Haryana,” he added.
Shah further stated, “Only a government with a track record of development and good governance, not one with false promises, can ensure the welfare of Haryana.”
वीर भूमि हरियाणा की जनता आज प्रदेश में मतदान करने जा रही है। आपका एक वोट हरियाणा को खर्ची-पर्ची राज, भ्रष्टाचार और डीलरों से मुक्त रखने का काम करेगा।
सभी बहनों-भाइयों से मेरा आग्रह है कि वे विकास की गति को बनाये रखने और सरकार को एक जिले से बाहर निकालकर, हरियाणा के गाँव-गाँव तक…
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) October 5, 2024
Key Takeaways
Election officials reported the establishment of 20,632 polling booths statewide, with voting set to continue until 6 PM.
The atmosphere remained calm, with no reports of disruptions during the polling process.
In many rural areas, enthusiastic voters arrived at polling stations well before the 7 AM start time.
This election is shaping up to be a contest primarily between the ruling BJP and the main opposition Congress.
While the BJP seeks to maintain its double-engine governance, the Congress aims to capitalize on growing discontent among key demographics, including farmers, civil servants, unemployed youth, and wrestlers.
Both major parties are contesting for 89 of the 90 available seats, but analysts suggest that the presence of candidates from the Aam Aadmi Party and the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD), which is allied with the Bahujan Samaj Party, may complicate the dynamics.
Additionally, the Jannayak Janta Party, a splinter group from the INLD, is running alongside the Azad Samaj Party, and several independent candidates – many of whom are former BJP members – are also in the fray.
Chief Electoral Officer Pankaj Agarwal urged all eligible voters to take part in this democratic exercise. He highlighted the diversity of the electorate, which includes 1.07 crore men, nearly 96 lakh women, and 467 third-gender voters. “Every vote matters, and I encourage everyone to engage actively in this celebration of democracy,” he stated.
As the day unfolds, all eyes are on Haryana to witness the will of its electorate as they navigate this pivotal electoral moment.
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