Chandigarh:
In an innovative approach to engage with voters and gauge their sentiments, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini travelled to a public meeting venue in a bullock cart during his campaign in Jind district on Wednesday. He shared a video of the experience on X, stating, “The son of a poor farmer knows how to run the government as well as drive a bullock cart.”
Accompanied by Haryana BJP President Mohan Lal Badoli, Saini steered the cart while two local women joined him. His security detail was also present. According to a senior BJP leader who spoke anonymously to IANS, Saini’s intention behind riding the bullock cart was to connect with the community and discuss government programs and policies with the women seated beside him.
As part of his campaigning, Saini is traveling extensively across the state, highlighting measures the BJP government has taken to support farmers, Dalits, and the economically disadvantaged, while also responding to the Congress party’s ‘Haryana Maange Hisab’ campaign by accusing the Opposition of misinformation.
With the Election Commission of India (ECI) scheduling legislative elections for 90 Assembly seats on October 1, just two months post-parliamentary elections, political tensions in BJP-led Haryana are escalating. Election results will be announced on October 4. Observers suggest that while the ruling BJP is optimistic about winning a third consecutive term under newcomer Chief Minister Saini—who represents the Other Backward Class (OBC)—it faces challenges due to anti-incumbency sentiments and farmer dissatisfaction.
The Congress, which governed until 2014, appears to have an advantage, rallying support from farmers, traders, and government employees. Senior Congress figure Bhupinder Hooda, a two-time chief minister, is actively campaigning, despite internal party conflicts.
Additionally, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has begun its campaign against the BJP, focusing on issues like unemployment, law and order, and the Agnipath scheme. AAP is contesting all seats independently and has introduced the ‘Kejriwal Ki 5 Guarantee’ campaign, which includes promises of free electricity, medical treatment, and education, along with monthly financial support for women and job opportunities for youth.
In the previous Assembly elections in October 2019, the BJP secured 40 seats but fell short of a majority. It partnered with the newly formed Jannayak Janta Party (JJP), led by Dushyant Chautala, who was the deputy to then Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar. Analysts believe Saini’s appointment as Chief Minister aims to unify non-Jat and OBC votes and mitigate dissatisfaction with Khattar, who led from 2014 until March 2024.
In Haryana’s caste dynamics, Jat support is split among Congress, JJP, and the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD), with the Jats—who account for around 25 percent of the population—holding significant influence. Union Home Minister Amit Shah has confirmed that the BJP will compete independently in the Assembly elections under Saini.
OBCs represent about 30 percent of the electorate, followed by Jats at 25 percent and Scheduled Castes (SCs) at approximately 20 percent. In the recent Lok Sabha elections, the Congress won in three Jat-majority constituencies, with farmers playing a vital role in their success. The party also claimed victories in both SC-reserved constituencies, reflecting its efforts to appeal to both Jat and Dalit communities, bolstered by Hooda’s stature and loyalty within the party.
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