The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is on track to secure a historic third consecutive victory in Haryana, which would serve as a significant rebound following its underperformance in the recent Lok Sabha elections. While the BJP is unlikely to form a government in Jammu and Kashmir, it looks set to consolidate and potentially expand its influence in the region, further solidifying its national political position despite competition from the Congress party.
In Haryana, the BJP faced substantial anti-incumbency sentiments, driven by farmer and wrestler protests, and criticism surrounding the Agniveer recruitment scheme. To counter this, the party employed a strategic approach, with fewer rallies by Prime Minister Narendra Modi compared to the 2019 elections but a strong emphasis on local leadership and unifying non-Jat votes.
The Congress party’s focus on rallying Jat support inadvertently united other communities against it, thus benefiting the BJP. Notably, Dalit voters, who traditionally supported Congress, did not fully shift their allegiance, indicating a fragmented opposition support base.
The BJP’s campaign was heavily centered around Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, who had been in office for less than six months. This allowed the party to distance itself from the issues associated with the previous administration. Saini’s initiatives, such as raising the income limit for the OBC category from ₹6 lakh to ₹8 lakh, became a key talking point.
One of the standout promises of the BJP’s campaign, “bina parchi, bina kharchi naukri” (jobs without recommendations or bribes), struck a chord with voters disillusioned by past governance.
The BJP’s success in Haryana would also quell rumors of a rift between the party and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), as organizational strength played a key role. A strong showing in Haryana could bolster the BJP’s prospects in upcoming elections, particularly in Delhi, where it has been struggling for over 25 years, and enhance its position in Maharashtra and Jharkhand, where it faces pressure from allies.
Moreover, BJP’s performance in Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir signals a challenge for Congress, potentially dampening its aspirations in states like Maharashtra and Jharkhand, where the BJP’s resurgence could affect its hold.
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