Haryana Assembly Elections Underway; Voter Turnout At 9.53% BY 9 AM

Polling for Haryana’s 90-member legislative Assembly commenced on Saturday, with over 2.03 crore registered voters casting ballots for 1,031 candidates, resulting in an initial voter turnout of 9.53% by 9 AM.

The turnout varied across different districts. The details are:

• Panchkula: 5.3%
• Ambala: 8.7%
• Yamunanagar: 10.9%
• Kurukshetra: 9.6%
• Kaithal: 10%
• Karnal: 6.2%
• Panipat: 8.5%
• Sonipat: 6.5%
• Jind: 10.2%
• Fatehabad: 8.9%
• Rohtak: 3%
• Sirsa: 6.7%
• Hisar: 8.9%
• Bhiwani: 8.4%
• Charki Dadri: 8.8%
• Faridabad: 4.6%
• Gurugram: 6.1%

Outgoing Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini of the BJP expressed optimism about securing a third consecutive term, confidently asserting that the party would win with a significant margin.

“We (BJP) are winning and forming the government for the third time with a big margin,” he stated after voting in Mirzapur, dismissing claims from the opposition as ‘politics of lies’.

In contrast, Opposition Leader Bhupinder Hooda exuded confidence that the Congress party could unseat the BJP government, citing widespread dissatisfaction among farmers, youth, and other key voter demographics.

He further urged voters to recognize the importance of their choices, asserting, “Every vote will decide the future and direction of the state.”

Amid potential discord within the Congress, MP Kumari Selja has however positioned herself as a contender for the chief minister’s role if the party emerges victorious.

“The BJP has nothing to show for itself. The Congress is the only credible alternative,” she further said, adding “At the end of the day, our party high command makes decisions. Today’s fight will change the fate of Haryana.”

Voter Engagement Key As Haryana Elections Feature Tight Race Between BJP & Congress

The elections are however taking place amid heightened security, with 20,632 polling booths established across the state. Voting will continue until 6 PM.

The BJP is campaigning on its achievements over the past decade, while the Congress is relying on strong anti-incumbency sentiments.

Meanwhile, the high-stakes campaign has featured significant activities from both the BJP and Congress, each contesting 89 seats to capture the support of the electorate.

Key figures on the ballot include Chief Minister Saini from Ladwa and Congress veteran Hooda from Garhi Sampla-Kiloi. Former BJP minister Anil Vij and Capt Abhimanyu are also in the fray.

Notably, Olympic wrestler-turned-politician Vinesh Phogat is contesting on a Congress ticket from Julana, facing off against Aam Aadmi Party candidate Kavita Dalal, India’s first female WWE wrestler.

Additionally, Olympic medalist Manu Bhaker made headlines by casting her vote for the first time, emphasizing the responsibility of the youth to participate in the electoral process. “Small steps lead to big goals,” she further remarked.

Chief Electoral Officer Pankaj Agarwal urged all eligible voters to engage in this crucial democratic process, highlighting that the electorate includes 1.07 crore men, nearly 96 lakh women, and 467 voters from the third gender.

“Every vote counts,” he further reiterated, encouraging widespread participation in this festival of democracy.

Also Read: Gurugram Sees 3% Voter Turnout In First Two Hours Of Polling