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NATION OCTOBER 04, 2024 | The Indian Eye 8

HARYANA ASSEMBLY POLLS

State headed for a cliffhanger as BJP eyes third

term and Congress hopes for a return to power

Aam Aadmi Party convenor Arvind Kejriwal claimed that no government can be formed

without the support of AAP in Haryana

OUR BUREAU
Rohtak/Chandigarh

n a setback for the Bharatiya Janata Party days
before the Haryana Assembly polls, former Lok
ISabha MP Ashok Tanwar joined the Congress
on Thursday. Tanwar, who joined the BJP before
the Lok Sabha elections 2024, joined the Congress
in the presence of Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition
Rahul Gandhi at Mahendargarh.
Ashok Tanwar was the Congress MP from Sirsa
after he won in the 2009 general elections. He was
appointed as Haryana Congress Chief from 2014 to
2019, when he left the party. In 2021, he joined the
Trinamool Congress and switched to the Aam Aad-
mi Party in 2022.
He joined the BJP ahead of the 2024 general
elections and contested from Sirsa but lost to Con-
gress’ Kumari Selja from the seat.
Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi
Adityanath on Thursday emphasized the devel-
opment achievements under the leadership of the
double-engine government over the past ten years,
ahead of the assembly elections in the BJP-ruled
state of Haryana.
The high-stakes campaigning for the single Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi with party leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda and others
phase of polling in the Haryana Assembly elections during the public meeting ahead of Haryana Assembly elections, in Mahendragarh on Thursday (ANI)
concluded on Thursday evening, with voting set to
take place for 90 constituencies. As the campaigning
for the Haryana polls ends, the BJP hopes to retain the 90 seats, forming a coalition government with the Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi
power for a third consecutive term while the Con- JJP, which won 10 seats. The Congress secured 31 on Thursday exuded confidence in the Bharatiya
gress eyes a comeback after a decade-long hiatus. seats. However, JJP later broke out of the coalition. Janata Party winning the Haryana assembly polls
The key contesting parties in Haryana include Manohar Lal Khattar served as the Chief Min- and said that the patriotic people of the state will
BJP, Congress, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), as well as ister of Haryana for around 9.5 years. He was suc- never accept the “divisive and negative politics” of
the pre-poll alliance between Indian National Lok ceeded by Nayab Singh Saini in March this year. the Congress.
Dal-Bahujan Samaj Party (INLD-BSP) and Jannay- BJP is contesting the polls under his leadership. “The campaign for the Haryana assembly elec-
ak Janta Party (JJP)-Azad Samaj Party (ASP). Saini is contesting from Ladwa constituency. tions will end shortly. I have travelled all over the
Voting in Haryana is scheduled for October 5 As BJP is eyeing a third straight term to power state in the last few days. The enthusiasm I have seen
from 7 am to 6 pm. A total of 1,031 candidates are in the state, the Congress party is aiming to wrest among the people gives me full confidence that the
contesting in all 90 assembly constituencies, and back power riding on anti-incumbency, and issues of people of Haryana will once again give their bless-
20,632 polling booths have been set up for voting. farmer protests and wrestler’s protest. ings to the BJP. The patriotic people of Haryana will
Haryana Chief Electoral Officer Pankaj Agarw- One of the prominent faces in the elections is never accept the divisive and negative politics of the
al said on Thursday that over 2.03 crore voters in the wrestler Vinesh Phogat. She joined the Congress Congress,” the Prime Minister said.
state will be able to exercise their franchise in the 15th party on September 6, along with Olympian wrestler Meanwhile, Aam Aadmi Party convenor
Haryana Legislative Assembly General Elections. Bajrang Punia, following her disqualification from Arvind Kejriwal claimed that no government can
The Chief Electoral Officer further informed that the women’s 50kg final at the Paris Olympics. be formed without the support of AAP in Haryana.
a total of 1,031 candidates are contesting in the elec- Vinesh was one of the leading wrestlers during “No government can be formed in Haryana without
tions, including 930 males and 101 females. Among the protest launched against the former Wrestling AAP. It is my responsibility that whichever govern-
these candidates, 464 are independent candidates. Federation of India (WFI) chief and BJP leader Brij ment is formed with our support, we will ensure that
The counting of votes will take place on October Bhushan Sharan Singh last year over his alleged sex- electricity in Haryana is provided free of charge,”
8. In the 2019 Assembly elections, the BJP won 40 of ual harassment of several women wrestlers. Kejriwal said.

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