Chandigarh: The results of the assembly elections held in Haryana are being announced today. There has been a direct contest in the elections between the Bharatiya Janata Party, which has been in power in Haryana for the last ten years, and the Congress. BJP and Congress candidates are face to face on most of the seats in the 90-member assembly. Defying the predictions of exit polls and election pundits, BJP is moving towards achieving absolute majority in the state. In such a situation, the question is arising that how did BJP turn the tables in its favor? There is always talk of thirty-six castes in Haryana elections, thirty-six castes together form the social structure of Haryana. Even in elections, all parties have been relying on caste equations. Talking about this election, Congress appeared to be mainly dependent on Jats, who constitute about 22 percent of the population. The reason for this was the dissatisfaction of the Jats with the BJP after the farmers’ movement. At the same time, Congress was eyeing about 21 percent Dalit and minority votes (Muslims and Sikhs).
BJP made a comeback by uniting upper castes and OBCs
While the Congress was seen creating a Jat-Dalit equation, the BJP, on the other hand, focused on uniting non-Jats, mainly Other Backward Classes (OBCs). OBC population in Haryana is about 35 percent. The BJP combined non-Jat votes with its traditional upper caste votes. Many campaigns also tried to reach out to the Scheduled Castes and caused harm to the Congress. This directly benefited the BJP and brought it closer to a hat-trick in Haryana.
If we talk about parties other than Congress in Haryana, then INLD-BSP alliance and JJP-SP alliance were also in the fray. Both the alliances failed to make a big difference but it is also interesting that both these alliances were dependent on Dalits and Jats. JJP and INLD are parties dependent on Jats while SP and BSP are parties dependent on Dalits. In such a situation, on seats with close contests, these alliances proved to be harmful for the Congress rather than the BJP. Due to this, BJP benefited somewhere and Congress suffered loss.
BJP is getting majority
45 seats are required for majority in Haryana and BJP is leading on 49 seats. He has a decisive lead on more than 40 seats. In such a situation, it is clear that the formation of BJP government in Haryana is almost certain. Congress is winning 35 seats in Haryana. That means it is 10 seats away from majority.
JJP, which won 10 seats in the 2019 elections in Haryana, has been reduced to zero this time. At the same time, Aam Aadmi Party, which rules the two neighboring states of Haryana, has also not been able to win any seat in Haryana. In Haryana, after BJP and Congress, independents are ahead on maximum four seats. BSP and INLD are ahead on one seat each.