The schedule of the election was announced by the Election Commission of India on 16 August 2024. The ballots were counted and the results were declared on 8 October 2024. Although the majority of exit polls predicted a landslide victory for the Indian National Congress-led alliance, the Bharatiya Janata Party won a majority with 48 seats and secured victory for the third consecutive time, becoming the first party in the state's history to achieve this feat. Although the popular vote total differed by less than one percentage point, the Congress managed to win only 37 seats.
On 12 March 2024, Khattar resigned as the Chief Minister after the coalition between the BJP and JJP came to an end.[3]Nayab Singh Saini of the BJP was sworn in as the new Chief Minister on the same day with the support of independents.[4] After three independents withdrew their support to the BJP government in May 2024, Saini led a minority government.[5][6]
Single phase schedule of 2024 Haryana Legislative Assembly election
The schedule of the election was announced by the Election Commission of India on 16 August 2024.[8] The election was scheduled to be held in a single phase on 1 October.[9] On 31 August, the Election Commission announced that the elections would be held on 5 October and that the votes would be counted on 8 October.[10][11]
The BJP released its first list of 67 candidates on 4 September followed by the second list of 21 candidates on 10 September and the third list of 3 candidates on 11 September.[23][24][25]
The Congress released its first list of 32 candidates on 6 September and the second list of nine candidates on 8 September.[26][27][28] The party released its third list of 40 candidates on 11 September and the candidates for eight seats on 12 September.[29][30][31][32]
The BSP released its first list of four candidates on 27 August.[33] The INLD released its first list of seven candidates on 1 September.[34]
The JJP-ASP alliance released its first list of 19 candidates on 4 September followed by a second list of 12 candidates on 9 September.[35][36] The alliance announced candidates for 34 more seats on 11 September.[37][38] The final lists of candidates contesting in 21 seats were released in three phases on 12 September.[39][40][41]
The three farm laws by the BJP-led central government in 2020 have been a major point of contention with the farmers across various states. The farmers in Haryana also participated in the protests with the demand for the repeal of these laws, claiming that they adversely affect their crop sales and income was a prominent issue of that time.[46][47] Another significant issue prior to the elections was the demand for a Minimum Support Price (MSP) for farmers. Farmer unions advocated the government to ensure that MSPs are legally mandated, arguing that it will provide a safety net for their produce and ensure fair prices. The demand arose from concerns that the farmers might face financial instability due to fluctuating market prices without such guarantees. The issue was part of broader discontent with the existent agricultural policies and became a key topic in the electoral debates.[48]
Agnipath scheme
The Agnipath Scheme was a tour of duty style scheme introduced by the central government in June 2022, which proposed a four-year term recruitment into the Indian Army, after which 25% of them would continue their service in the army and rest would be dismissed. The scheme was seen as a move away from permanent recruitment and became a contentious issue in Haryana with concerns that it may lead to instability in employment for the soldiers.[49] The state government introduced a quota for such relieved soldiers in certain state government jobs.[50]
Unemployment
Unemployment was raised as a significant issue in the state as indicated by a survey by India Today.[51] Opposition parties questioned the effectiveness of government policies in creating job opportunities for the youth, which made it a central debating topic in the elections.[52][53]
Inflation
Rising prices of essential goods and services was also raised as a major election issue by the opposition parties.[53] They claimed that the inflation has significantly impacted the cost of living in Haryana and questioned the government's ability to manage inflation and provide relief to affected citizens.[54]
Wrestler protests
Haryana has a longstanding tradition in wrestling and sends the highest number of wrestlers who represent India at major international events.[55] A group of wrestlers have been protesting against the earlier chief of Wrestling Federation of India BJP's Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who had sexual abuse charges filed against him. The wrestlers accused Singh of failing to provide them with safety and demanded justice against the same.[56] For the Khelo India, which aims to promote sports at the grassroots level, the state was allocated only 3% of the total budget, leading to dissatisfaction and criticism from the sports community due to a perceived imbalance in the distribution of resources and support for athletes in the state.[57]
Campaigns
Bharatiya Janata Party
The BJP focused its campaign on highlighting its record of merit-based job creation and infrastructure development, and allegations of corruption during the previous Congress rule. Narendra Modi addressed four rallies and called the Congress the most "dishonest and deceitful" party.[58] The BJP had earlier reshuffled its leadership
and limited the campaigning of former chief minister Khattar, who had faced opposition for his views.[59] Saini, who was not part of the earlier government, became the chief minister few months before the election. He had implemented several populist measures including merit-based recruitment for new government jobs, distribution plots to families below the poverty line, free bus travel to the poor, and regularisation of unauthorized colonies. The party emphasised the schemes and also frequently highlighted his background as an OBC leader.[60] Additionally, the BJP dropped a third of its sitting legislators to counter the anti-incumbency sentiment and fielded more than 20 new candidates.[61]
Indian National Congress
In July, the Congress released a charge sheet criticising the BJP government on issues like unemployment, unfilled government positions, increased crime, and alleged mistreatment of farmers. On 15 July, it launched the Haryana Maange Hisab Abhiyan campaign, which was aimed at visiting all 90 Assembly constituencies, exposing the government failures and gathering suggestions from the public for its election manifesto.[62] Former chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and state Congress chief Udai Bhan announced a 'Rath Yatra' after 20 August as a part of the campaign.[63]
Manifestos
Bharatiya Janata Party
The BJP's manifesto was titled Non-Stop Haryana ka Sankalp Patra, which outlined 20 key promises to address various issues across the state. The party promised to provide ₹2,100 (US$24) monthly assistance to women under the "Lakshmi Yojana" scheme and health insurance coverage of up to ₹1 million (US$12,000) per family under the "Nirogi-Ayushman Yojana". The party also promised a minimum support price for 24 crops. It further pledged to create job opportunities for local youth in ten industrial cities, including a special provision for 50,000 new jobs and guaranteed government jobs for 2 lakh youths without an exam. The manifesto also included guarantees of affordable housing for 5 lakh individuals in urban and rural areas, availability of gas cylinders for ₹500 (US$5.80) under the "Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana", free tablets for students under the "Awasiya Balika Yojana", and the construction of five Olympic class stadiums. Additionally, the party promised new airports, high-speed rail corridors between major cities and industrial expressways. It also aimed to raise social pensions based on scientific formulas and provide loans up to ₹2.5 million (US$29,000) for the other backward classes (OBC) for starting new business. Other promises include increased medical and engineering opportunities for OBC students, interest-free loans for agricultural education, and the creation of a sports university and cultural center in the state.[64]
Indian National Congress
The Congress's manifesto focused on women empowerment, support for the elderly and disabled, job security for the youth, and improvement of the lives of families, farmers, and OBCs. It promised ₹2,000 (US$23) per month assistance for women and gas cylinders for ₹500 (US$5.80). It also guaranteed pensions of ₹6,000 (US$69) to the elderly, disabled, and widows, and that the restoration of the old pension scheme for the government employees. For the youth, the party promised 2 lakh government jobs and eradication of drugs from the state. It also promised 300 units of free electricity, medical coverage up to ₹2.5 million (US$29,000), a 100-yard plot and a two-room house costing ₹0.35 million (US$4,000) for the poor. The farmers were promised a legal guarantee of MSP and quick compensation for crop losses. The OBCs were promised a caste based survey and an increase in the creamy layer limit to ₹1 million (US$12,000).[65]
Surveys and polls
The exit polls were released on 5 October 2024 after the polling ended. Most of the exit polls predicted a victory for the Congress.[66] However, in actual result the BJP formed the government.
The BJP achieved its third consecutive victory in Haryana following the vote count for the October 5, 2024, assembly election, held on Tuesday. The party overcame 10 years of anti-incumbency and defied exit polls that had forecasted a decisive win for the opposition Congress. The BJP secured 48 seats in the 90-member assembly, while Indian National Congress, won 37 seats. Three independents and two candidates from the INLD also emerged victorious.[70][71]
While the BJP celebrated their victory and hailed the elections as historic, the Congress rejected the Haryana election results, citing irregularities in certain districts and raising concerns about the functioning of EVMs. During a press conference, Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera declared that the party would not fully accept the outcome,[79][80] though senior state leaders have conceded. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh suggested that in constituencies where more EVMs which were found to have high battery levels (99%) during the counting process, the BJP had won while in those with lower levels, the Congress won; EVM batteries last the full election cycle.[81][82]
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has denied that it had received complaints about EVM batteries from candidates or polling agents during the process. The ECI also dismissed earlier complaints from the Congress about a slowdown in result updates as ill-founded.[83]
Several leaders and political parties have raised concerns about EVM manipulation over the preceeding years, while the ECI has consistently maintained that EVMs cannot be manipulated. In April 2024, the Supreme Court had rejected a plea which sought either a return to paper ballots or 100% VVPAT slip counting.[82][84] The BJP alleges that the opposition makes these accusations when they face defeat.[85]
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