The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has achieved a historic third consecutive term in Haryana, securing 48 seats and effectively halting Congress’s comeback after a decade, as per the Election Commission’s latest updates. Congress won 37 seats, while Independents captured 3 and the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) managed 2 seats.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed gratitude to the people of Haryana for their overwhelming support, marking this as the BJP’s largest mandate to date.
Notable losses include Haryana Assembly Speaker Gian Chand Gupta and prominent BJP leaders Gopal Kanda and O.P. Dhankar. Congress’s Vinesh Phogat made headlines by defeating her BJP rival Yogesh Kumar in the Julana constituency by a margin of 6,015 votes. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which contested 89 seats, failed to win any.
Counting commenced at 8 am amid tight security. Initial trends had indicated a potential lead for Congress, with early results showing them ahead in 17 constituencies while the BJP lagged behind in nine. AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal highlighted the election’s key lesson: the dangers of overconfidence in polling.
The election themes prominently featured “Jats and Jalebis,” terms heavily leveraged by Congress, but these strategies did not translate into expected success. Former Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar criticized Congress’s focus on farmers, wrestlers, and youth, asserting that the BJP has delivered more for these groups.
Celebrations erupted at the Congress headquarters with the distribution of jalebis and drum beats, contrasting sharply with the subdued atmosphere at BJP offices in the early hours of counting. Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri welcomed the results, praising PM Modi’s leadership and emphasizing the significance of this “hat-trick” victory.
In a show of gratitude, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini thanked voters for their support, reaffirming the BJP’s commitment to the state’s development.
Wrestler Vinesh Phogat has claimed victory in Haryana’s Julana Assembly seat, defeating BJP’s Yogesh Bairagi by a margin of 6,000 votes in her electoral debut.
Celebrating her success, Phogat expressed her joy, stating, “I am feeling good.” She added, “Truth has won,” highlighting her belief in the significance of her victory for the party and the community.
