As counting commenced on Tuesday across 93 centres in all 22 districts of Haryana, the political landscape was charged with anticipation.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is likely to secure its third consecutive term, while the principal opposition, the Congress, is striving for a comeback after a decade in the wilderness.
Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Pankaj Agarwal reported that officials designated two counting centres for the Badshahpur, Gurugram, and Pataudi constituencies, while the remaining 87 constituencies have one counting centre each.
To ensure transparency and efficiency in the counting process, the Election Commission of India has appointed 90 observers.
Security is paramount, with 30 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) deployed across counting centres, which are under a three-tier security arrangement.
The innermost layer consists of central forces, with state-armed police and district personnel forming the outer layers.
Authorities have stationed approximately 12,000 police personnel at the counting centres to maintain order.
Agarwal emphasized that officials have established security checkpoints within a 100-meter radius of each counting centre to restrict unauthorized access.
The counting venues feature CCTV cameras for constant surveillance, ensuring a secure environment for the electoral process.
Additionally, postal ballots will be counted first, followed by Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) after a half-hour interval.
Timely updates on each round of counting will be provided to ensure transparency.
Haryana witnessed a voter turnout of 67.90% in the elections held on 5 October, with Sirsa district recording the highest turnout at 75.36% and Faridabad the lowest at 56.49%.
Ellenabad saw the highest individual constituency turnout at 80.61%, while Badkhal reported the lowest at 48.27%.
Exit Polls Predict Congress, Led By Hooda, Could Win 49-55 Seats In Haryana Assembly
Exit polls however suggest a significant shift in power, with predictions that the Congress, led by former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, could reclaim authority with an estimated 49-55 seats in the 90-member Assembly. The majority mark required to form the government is 46 seats.
Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, contesting from the Ladwa Assembly seat, remains optimistic about the BJP’s prospects, asserting that the party will secure a historic third term without the need for alliances.
Hooda, a prominent candidate for the chief ministerial position, expressed confidence in the Congress’s ability to form a government with a thumping majority.
Other parties in the race include the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Jannayak Janata Party (JJP), and Indian National Lok Dal (INLD).
The contest has become increasingly competitive, with numerous Independents, particularly former BJP members, adding to the multi-cornered challenge in several constituencies.
In the previous Assembly elections of October 2019, the BJP secured a vote share of 36.49% but fell short of a majority, necessitating a post-poll alliance with the JJP.
Notably, the Congress has seen an uptick in its vote share this year, improving by over 15% compared to its performance in the 2019 parliamentary elections.
With the counting process underway, all eyes are on the results that will shape Haryana’s political future in the coming years.
Also Read: Counting Begins In J&K: All Eyes On Results As 873 Candidates Await Fate
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