What initially appeared to be a promising day for Congress quickly turned around within hours as the BJP surged ahead in Haryana. Early trends put Congress ahead in the game but the BJP made a strong comeback and has maintained its lead so far. Defying exit poll predictions, the BJP is leading on 49 seats, with Congress in the lead on 36.
The Congress was looking to take the chair in Haryana after 10 years. At the time of writing, it has managed to win 28 seats, including Jhulana and Nuh. Meanwhile, BJP has won 29 seats, including Ladwa and Faridabad.
Besides Haryana, counting of votes is underway in Jammu and Kashmir as well. This is the first election that has been held in J&K since 2014. Here the NC-Congress alliance has collectively crossed the halfway mark at 47.
Let’s take a look at some of the key takeaways from today.
1. BJP turns the tide in Haryana
Despite early trends favouring Congress, the BJP made a strong comeback as counting progressed. Initially trailing, BJP surged ahead and is now leading in 49 seats, while Congress trails with 36. Exit polls had predicted a Congress win, but Haryana’s voter turnout of 67.90% saw BJP turning things around, much to the chagrin of Congress leaders who had hoped for a favourable outcome.
2. BJP’s resilience in the Hindi heartland
BJP’s comeback in Haryana marks a significant turnaround, especially after setbacks in Hindi heartland states like Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan during the Lok Sabha polls. These assembly elections highlight that the losses in those regions were likely localised and temporary, rather than indicating a broader shift away from the BJP in the heartland.
3. Brand Modi’s influence prevails
Haryana has never been a traditional BJP stronghold, and the party had only crossed the 30% vote mark in the state for the first time in 2014. Despite not having a major pan-state leader like Congress’s Bhupinder Singh Hooda, BJP’s performance underscores the continued appeal of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s brand, as well as the party’s ability to navigate local challenges, including anti-incumbency sentiments.
4. Congress raises concerns with the Election Commission
Congress expressed its frustration with the Election Commission, accusing it of an “unexplained slowdown” in updating election results on the official website. Between 9 and 11 am on counting day, Congress alleged discrepancies in result updates, which they claimed fueled misleading narratives on social media. Congress leaders urged for swift action to prevent false information from spreading.
5. Exit polls miss the mark again
Much like in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, exit polls failed to accurately predict the outcomes in Haryana. While most polls pointed to a Congress victory and a tight contest in Jammu and Kashmir, the actual results tell a different story. BJP is firmly in the lead in Haryana, while the NC-Congress alliance is comfortably ahead in Jammu and Kashmir. The misstep by exit polls once again highlights the difficulty in gauging voter sentiments accurately.
