Congress projected to end BJP's decade-long rule in Haryana

Initial results from the Haryana assembly elections indicate a significant lead for the Congress party, suggesting the potential end of the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) decade-long rule in the state.

According to reports, Congress is projected to secure around 55 of the 90 seats in the assembly, while the BJP is expected to win between 25 to 27 seats.

This marks a notable shift in the political landscape, as Congress aims to capitalise on its recent success in the Lok Sabha elections earlier this year.

The elections took place on October 5, with official results set to be announced on October 8. Early exit polls have already signalled a strong performance for Congress, which, alongside its alliance with the National Conference in Jammu and Kashmir, is poised to challenge the BJP's dominance.

In Jammu and Kashmir, initial projections suggest that Congress, in collaboration with the National Conference, may secure around 43 seats out of the 90 contested.

The elections in the region were conducted in three phases from September 18 to October 1, with results to be announced concurrently with Haryana’s on October 8.

Meanwhile, the Aam Aadmi Party, led by Arvind Kejriwal, is expected to struggle to gain any foothold in Haryana despite governing in Delhi and Punjab.

The ongoing electoral developments in both states have set the stage for a significant shift in the political dynamics of India as Congress looks to regain its influence after years of decline.

The BJP government in Haryana has faced significant backlash due to a number of unresolved issues, resulting in growing discontent with the ruling party among voters.

In a bid to quell rising dissatisfaction, the party replaced then-Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar in March 2024, but this strategy backfired, failing to address the root causes of discontent.

A major concern was the state's high unemployment rate, which stood at 9% in 2021-22, significantly exceeding the national average of 4.1%.

Despite pledging to create 200,000 jobs, the BJP administration fell short, leaving nearly 184,000 vacancies unfilled.

Additionally, corruption scandals, including the recovery of over Rs 3 crore from the Haryana Public Service Commission, undermined the party's claims of transparent recruitment.

The BJP, traditionally strong among urban voters, saw its core support erode as many opted not to participate in the elections this time.

Only ten million of the twenty million eligible voters cast their ballots, indicating a marked decline in support.

With exit polls showing that Congress could make a comeback, the BJP's mistakes might result in a change of leadership in Haryana.