The ruling BJP exuded confidence ahead of the polls that it would win 75-plus seats in the 90-member Haryana assembly. However, that appears to have been badly misplaced with the party falling short of the magic figure of 46 required for a majority.
Amit Shah is playing a key role in gathering support for government formation with the help of independents.
The Congress which was in power for ten years from 2004 to 2014 unleashed a populist manifesto promising loan waivers for farmers and 33% reservation for women in government jobs in a bid to steal the BJP's thunder. This has paid dividends for the party which has ended a strong second.
The surprise package is the Jannayak Janata Party (JJP) which was formed less than a year ago after breaking away from the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD). Led by Dushyant Chautala, the great-grandson of former deputy PM Devi Lal, the JJP appears to have taken most of the INLD's vote share along with it in the Jat belt.
The BJP, Congress and JJP each contested all the 90 seats. The BJP's candidates included three sportspersons -- Olympic bronze medalist Yogeshwar Dutt, former Indian hockey captain Sandeep Singh and wrestler Babita Phogat -- as well as TikTok star Sonali Phogat. Yogeshwar Dutt and Sonali Phogat lost while Sandeep Singh emerged victorious.
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BJP chief in Haryana Subhash Barala has resigned from his post. Barala is trailing from Tohana.
BJP working president JP Nadda has reached the BJP headquarters in Delhi to chair a meeting with Haryana BJP in-charge Anil Jain.
Former Haryana CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda to address a press conference around 1pm.
Take a look at who's leading and trailing in the #HaryanaAssemblyElections2019. #ElectionResults2019 #ElectionsWithTNIE
— The New Indian Express (@NewIndianXpress) October 24, 2019
Follow the link for LIVE updates: https://t.co/QsWEDUWeEA pic.twitter.com/oQpQLaNyjQ
#HaryanaAssemblyElections2019: Bharatiya Janata Party's Babita Phogat leading with a margin of 2387 votes in Dadri assembly constituency (file pic) pic.twitter.com/OMxNd45AKE
— ANI (@ANI) October 24, 2019
Congress gains momentum as seven ministers from Khattar's Cabinet, Assembly Speaker, state BJP chief trail in Haryana.
The trends of the vote count in Haryana on Thursday indicate that the ruling BJP's hardliner nationalistic agenda vis-a-vis Article 370 did not help much in rural areas as the party seemed to have lost ground in as many as 17 seats in interior parts.
As per TV reports, Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi has given former Haryana CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda a free hand on government formation in Haryana.
Haryana has given the verdict- it will not tolerate @BJP4Haryana's misgovernance any more.Choosing to leave behind the maladies inflicted on its people in last 5years,the state is ready to embrace a new dawn of justice &equality under the leadership of @INCHaryana.#IbbkeCongress
— Kumari Selja (@kumari_selja) October 24, 2019
JJP chief Dushyant Chautala on Thursday said that he will extend his support to anyone offering him the chief minister's chair.
Home Minister Amit Shah has cancelled his ITBP function in Greater Noida and has summoned Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar to the BJP headquarters in Delhi at 2 pm on Thursday.
As the numbers predict a hung situation in Haryana, the Congress is now trying to reach out to Dushyant Chautala, who is emerging as the possible kingmaker. As per TV reports, Congress could offer the Deputy CM post to Chautala.
As per TV reports, BJP has asked SAD leaders Parkash Singh Badal and Sukhbir Badal to reach out to JJP's Dushyant Chautala.
As per initial trends of all 90 assembly seats, BJP is leading in 38 seats, Congress in 32. Jannayak Janta Party (JJP) leading in 11 seats, Indian National Lok Dal leading in 2 seats.
According to official trends from EC, Bharatiya Janata Party-29 & Indian National Congress -21, Jannayak Janta Party-10 & Others-9; Total 90 seats.
#WATCH Senior Congress leader & former Haryana CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda in Rohtak: Congress ka bahumat aayega. #HaryanaAssemblyPolls pic.twitter.com/dxzdQNY09c
— ANI (@ANI) October 24, 2019
Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar leading from Karnal and Former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda leading from Garhi Sampla-Kiloli assembly seat in Rohtak.
Dushyant Chautala of JJP is leading from Uchana Kalan constituency.
#HaryanaAssemblyElections2019: Counting of votes underway in Gurugram. pic.twitter.com/kAhCf1IZQL
— ANI (@ANI) October 24, 2019
Haryana had on Monday recorded a voter turnout of over 68 per cent, a sharp decline from 76.54 in the 2014 assembly polls.
PM Narendra Modi said that people of Maharashtra and Haryana have reposed their trust in chief ministers of the two states and asserted that they will work even harder in the next five years to serve them. (READ MORE)
#HaryanaAssemblyElections2019: Counting of votes underway in Karnal. pic.twitter.com/CS9c4eBvAa
— ANI (@ANI) October 24, 2019
Ahead of the Assembly elections in Haryana and Maharashtra, the Congress faced a daunting task of keeping its house in order following a number of party workers defecting the party and some openly rebelling against the leadership after the rout in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. (READ MORE)
Wrestler turned BJP candidate Yogeshwar Dutt and Babita Phogat leading in Baroda and Charkhi Dadri.
In Bharatiya Janata Party's attempt to form government in Haryana without Jannayak Janata Party's support, former Haryana minister Gopal Goyal Kanda is scheduled to hold a meeting with BJP president Amit Shah on Thursday. (READ MORE)
Dushyant Chautala: Na BJP, na Congress 40 par karegi, satta ki chabi JJP (Jannayak Janata Party) ke haath mein hogi. #HaryanaAssemblyPolls pic.twitter.com/qvYAVvKl7Y
— ANI (@ANI) October 24, 2019
Wrestler Babita Phogat, BJP's candidate for Dadri assembly constituency: People have given me love and support, that is my strength, & what keeps me going. I have faith in public and myself, people will give blessings to their daughter. #HaryanaAssemblyPolls pic.twitter.com/y3DMGvJGbD
— ANI (@ANI) October 24, 2019
Jannayak Janata Party (JJP) spokesperson Prateek Som claimed that his party will hold the key to forming the new government in Haryana. "My party has always claimed that we will hold the key to forming the government in Haryana. This time, Haryana has gone for silent voting. People were not very vocal about their choices," Som said.
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Haryana Police has made full proof three-tier security arrangement for the safety of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT), said Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) (Law and Order).
Around 90 strong rooms have been established at 59 different locations with a round-the-clock vigil to ensure the safety of EVMs and VVPAT machines.
"We accept the people's mandate humbly and respectfully. We also want to say that it is a moral defeat for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). PM Narendra Modi, BJP president Amit Shah and their entire leadership was cut off from the ground reality," says Congress leader Anand Sharma.
Delhi: Union Home Minister and BJP National President, Amit Shah, and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh arrive at party headquarters. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and party leader JP Nadda also present. pic.twitter.com/lSUfREURWp
— ANI (@ANI) October 24, 2019
PM Narendrav Modi: I thank the people of Haryana for blessing us. We will continue to work with same zeal and dedication for the state’s progress. I laud the efforts of hardworking BJP Haryana karyakartas who toiled extensively and went amongst people to elaborate on our development agenda.
गत 5वर्षों में मोदी जी के केंद्रीय नेतृत्व में खट्टर सरकार ने हरियाणा की जनता के कल्याण के लिए हर संभव प्रयास किये।
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) October 24, 2019
भाजपा को सबसे बड़ी पार्टी बनाकर पुनः सेवा का मौका देने के लिए जनता का अभिनंदन करता हूँ।
मुख्यमंत्री श्री @mlkhattar, श्री @subhashbrala व सभी कार्यकर्ताओं को बधाई।
Jannayak Janata Party (JJP) chief Dushyant Chautala will be the next chief minister of Haryana, former state Congress chief Ashok
Tanwar said on Thursday, even as the counting of votes is underway. Speaking to ANI here, Tanwar said the people of Haryana have rejected the BJP and the Congress and asked the two parties to support Chautala become the chief minister.
Former Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda has defeated the BJP candidate Satish Nandal.
As of 5.15 PM, that BJP has won 21 seats and is leading in 19 other seats which takes the tally to 40. However, the BJP is short of six seats to cross the halfway mark.
In the wake of the recent developments, CM Manohar Lal Khattar is likely to meet the Haryana Governor and stake claim to form government.
#WATCH: Congress General Secretary for UP (East) Priyanka Gandhi Vadra in Raebareli says, "I haven't seen the latest trends, really happy at both (Haryana and Maharashtra). We also are happy about the fact that here in UP our vote percentage has increased." pic.twitter.com/WICkvwnUqd
— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) October 24, 2019
As per TV reports, Congress leaders BS Hooda and his son Deepender Hooda are about to leave for Delhi to meet Sonia Gandhi.
PM Narendra Modi and Amit Shah will meet and address the party workers at the BJP headquarters this evening.
BJP's state chief Subhash Barala says that he has not resigned from his post.
Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar is leading in Karnal assembly seat by 41,950 votes. Congress' Tarlochan Singh is trailing.
JJP leader Dushyant Chautala said that the party would meet in Delhi at 11 AM. "After selecting the leader for legislative leadership, we would keep the perspective in front of the national executive," he added.
Minister Krishan Kumar Bedi lost to JJP's Ram Karan from the Shahbad by a margin of 37,127 votes.
Congress leader DS Hooda: Today, it’s clear that people’s mandate is to throw off Khattar’s govt. I want to ask Dushyant Chautala (JJP), independent candidates & other parties to come together&form coalition govt in Haryana so that people’s mandate can be respected.
Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala has lost the Kaithal seat to BJP’s Leela Ram by 567 votes.
Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar has reached Delhi. He has been summoned by Home Minister Amit Shah.
BS Hooda in Rohtak: : The time has come for Congress, JJP, INLD, and independents to come together to form a strong government. I assure that each one will be respected and given a respectable position.
Both the BJP and Congress are now leading in 35 seats intensifying the fight.
