In a dramatic twist, the BJP staged a comeback on Tuesday, halting Congress’s celebrations and securing a historic third consecutive term in Haryana.
Defying exit poll predictions, the BJP won 48 of the 90 assembly seats, crossing the majority mark of 46 and maintaining its dominance in the state. Meanwhile, in Jammu & Kashmir, the National Conference-Congress (NC) alliance turned projections on their head, winning 48 seats in the region’s first assembly election since 2014, with Farooq Abdullah appointing his son, Omar Abdullah, as the next chief minister.
BJP’s Unprecedented Third Term in Haryana
Tuesday’s results in Haryana marked a significant political achievement for the BJP, which is now the first party to win three consecutive terms in the state since its creation in 1966.
The BJP’s tally of 48 seats surpassed the Congress’s 37, a victory that caught many by surprise, as exit polls had predicted a Congress comeback.
Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, who led the BJP campaign, called the result a vindication of his party’s governance model, saying, “The people of Haryana have spoken, and they have chosen development and stability.”
The Congress, which had high hopes of reclaiming power after 10 years in opposition, was left reeling from the unexpected loss.
Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda, who had expressed optimism about his party’s chances, conceded defeat but vowed to continue fighting for the people of Haryana.
Regional players, who had hoped to act as kingmakers in the event of a hung assembly, found themselves sidelined.
The Indian National Lok Dal (INLD), once a dominant force in Haryana politics, won just two seats, while the Jannayak Janta Party (JJP), which had aligned with the BJP in 2019, failed to win any seats.
Congress-NC Alliance Secures Victory in Jammu & Kashmir
In Jammu & Kashmir, the National Conference-Congress alliance secured a major victory, winning 48 seats in the 90-member assembly.
The BJP, while improving on its 2014 performance, managed to secure 29 seats, a significant distance from forming the government.
The once-influential Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) suffered a steep decline, winning only three seats.
Omar Abdullah, the leader of the National Conference and now the presumptive chief minister, expressed satisfaction with the result, declaring, “Those who sought to destroy us were decimated instead.”
His statement was seen as a direct jab at the BJP, which had hoped to make deeper inroads in the union territory.
However, the possibility of a hung assembly looms large, as opposition parties worry that the five Lieutenant Governor-nominated MLAs could tilt the balance in favor of the BJP.
Despite these concerns, Omar Abdullah urged patience, stating that final results and government formation would become clear in due course.
The election in Jammu & Kashmir, the first since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, has drawn national attention.
The NC-Congress victory is being seen as a mandate against the BJP’s policies in the region, particularly after years of political uncertainty and conflict.
AAP Falters in Haryana, Finds Hope in Jammu & Kashmir
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which had hoped to make inroads in Haryana, failed to win any seats in the state, a significant blow to the party led by Arvind Kejriwal.
AAP had entered the contest without a seat-sharing arrangement with Congress, its national ally in the INDIA bloc, and the result highlights the party’s struggle to gain a foothold in Haryana’s political landscape.
However, AAP did see a glimmer of success in Jammu & Kashmir, where its candidate Mehraj Malik won the Doda assembly seat, marking a rare victory for the party in the region.
Malik’s win signals a potential entry point for AAP in Jammu & Kashmir politics, though the party’s overall performance in both states leaves much to be desired.
Controversies and Challenges Ahead
The elections in Jammu & Kashmir have been mired in controversy, with opposition parties accusing the BJP of trying to manipulate results by nominating MLAs to five reserved seats.
These allegations were strongly dismissed by the Election Commission (EC), which issued a stern rebuttal, calling the Congress’s accusations “unfounded and malafide.”
The EC emphasized its commitment to conducting free and fair elections and rejected any claims of bias.
In Haryana, while the BJP’s victory is being celebrated as a political masterstroke, the party now faces the challenge of delivering on its promises.
Chief Minister Saini, who took over from Manohar Lal Khattar earlier this year, has vowed to continue focusing on good governance, merit-based jobs, and welfare schemes for farmers.
However, with growing concerns over unemployment, inflation, and rural distress, the road ahead is far from smooth.
As the political dust settles, the results of these elections will reverberate beyond Haryana and Jammu & Kashmir, setting the stage for the next round of assembly elections in Maharashtra, Jharkhand, and Delhi.
The BJP’s ability to defy exit polls and the Congress-NC alliance’s triumph in Jammu & Kashmir are critical indicators of the shifting dynamics in Indian politics, offering a preview of the battles to come in 2024 and beyond.
