The 2024 Haryana Assembly elections are underway, with live updates pouring in from across the state:
- Congress leader Sachin Pilot has expressed confidence in the party’s victory, citing the seven guarantees promised by the Congress to the public and the growing demand for change after the BJP’s decade-long rule.
- A scuffle broke out between supporters of Congress candidate Mohammad Ilyas from Punahana and independent candidate Raees Khan in Nuh, adding tension to the election atmosphere.
- Senior Congress MP Kumari Selja emphasized that the party high command will decide the chief ministerial candidate if Congress wins, reiterating her commitment to ground-level efforts.
- BJP candidate Anil Vij from Ambala Cantt expressed his belief that the BJP will form the government and hinted at his potential candidacy for chief minister due to his seniority in the party.
- Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan is confident that the BJP will secure a third consecutive term, pointing to the faith people have in PM Modi and the party’s governance.
- Early voter turnout showed Jind leading with 12.71%, followed by Palwal (12.45%) and Ambala (11.87%) as of 9 AM, according to the Election Commission of India (ECI).
- Former Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar criticized the Congress for its history of corruption and lauded the BJP for creating more employment opportunities in the state.
- BJP leader Babita Phogat urged voters to focus on development and make Haryana the top state by casting their votes responsibly.
- Independent candidate Balraj Kundu from Meham alleged an assault by former Congress MLA Anand Singh Dangi’s supporters outside a polling booth, highlighting the competitive nature of the election.
- Congress leader Rahul Gandhi encouraged voters to prioritize issues like farmers’ rights, employment, and women’s rights while casting their votes, asking them to support Congress for positive change.
- Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini called for 100% voter turnout, emphasizing the achievements of the BJP’s “double-engine government” under PM Modi.
- Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge urged voters to reflect on issues like unemployment, inflation, and corruption when heading to the polls.
- PM Narendra Modi encouraged citizens to participate in the democratic process, urging first-time voters to exercise their right and contribute to setting a new voting record.
- Mock polling has begun in various constituencies, including Jhajjar and Adampur, as over 2 crore voters prepare to cast their ballots across 90 assembly constituencies.
Voting officially takes place on October 5, with polling scheduled from 7 AM to 6 PM. A total of 1,031 candidates are contesting in the elections, with 20,632 polling booths set up to facilitate the voting process.
