With less than two weeks left for the state polls, all major parties in Haryana are set on the frontlines along with their final candidates. Voting for Haryana’s 90-member legislative assembly is scheduled to take place on October 5 and the results will be counted on October 8. To monitor and review the action taken on the directions issued by the Election Commission of India, an ECI team on Monday held a meeting with several administrative and police officers from 11 districts of poll-bound state.
As the state gears up for polls, the betting frenzy is in full swing, with speculation rife on who will secure the majority in Haryana’s 90-seat Assembly. Though the election results are set to be announced on October 8, satta bazar from places like Phalodi, Dabwali and Mumbai are already placing their bets. Predictions indicate a strong possibility for Congress, while BJP’s chances seem dim, media reports suggested. According to betting trends, Congress is expected to win between 56 to 58 seats, while BJP might only manage 24 to 26 seats.
Meanwhile, Jannayak Janta Party (JJP), which secured 10 seats in the 2018 elections, appears to have lost its momentum after seven of its MLAs defected, especially post its breakup with BJP, as per a report by Patrika.com.
This election could potentially mark a departure from Haryana’s usual trend of aligning with the party in power at the center, as suggested by the betting market’s sentiment. However, the real outcome will be known on October 8.
ECI bans exit polls
The Election Commission of India (ECI) issued a notification ahead of the Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections, restricting exit and opinion polls. As per the notice dated September 3, the publication of exit polls via print, electronic media, or any other platform is banned from 7 am on September 18 to 6.30 pm on October 5.
The ECI also stated that no election-related material, including opinion poll results or surveys, can be displayed on electronic media during the 48 hours preceding the conclusion of voting.