The recent electoral contests in Haryana have witnessed intense strategizing by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as it grapples with a changed political landscape. Earlier the party had secured victories in all ten Lok Sabha seats in the state, now it is facing a formidable challenge from the Indian National Congress (INC).
Lok Sabha Election Results: A Shift in Fortunes
In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP faced challenge by winning five out of the ten seats in Haryana. This marked a level of departure from its previous dominance, where it had consistently clinched victory across all constituencies. The BJP’s vote share also dipped by approximately 12%, while the Congress witnessed a surge of nearly 15% in its vote share.
With the upcoming state assembly elections just four months away, the party is closely scrutinizing its strategy to ensure the continuity of its government and a dominant victory over it's competitors.
Strengthening the Assembly Election Strategy
To bolster its prospects in the state assembly elections, the BJP has appointed Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan as the election in-charge for Haryana. In a recent meeting attended by party president JP Nadda, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Chief Minister Nayab Saini , Former Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, and other key leaders, the party deliberated on the assembly election strategy. The discussion also included preparations for a by-election to a Rajya Sabha seat.
The fractured alliance between the BJP and its former ally, the Jannayak Janata Party (JJP), has paved the way for a potential face-off with the Congress. While the Congress in collaboration with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), has contested only from nine out of the ten seats, the AAP fielded a candidate in Kurukshetra. The BJP has contested in all the ten seats alone.
As the state braces for the Rajya Sabha by-election, the BJP faces a challenging task. If the Congress manages to rally its ten MLAs along with some independent legislators, victory in the Rajya Sabha polls could be challenging for the BJP.
The battle lines are drawn, and both parties are leaving no stone unturned in their quest for supremacy. While the BJP aims to consolidate its non-Jat and urban voter base, the Congress seeks to capitalize on its recent gains and revive its political fortunes in Haryana.
As the electoral drama unfolds, Haryana remains a crucial battleground, and the outcome will shape the state’s political landscape for years to come. Now it will be interesting to see, how BJP's strong organization and development projects aids it to regain power for another term.
