Election Results 2024: Will BJP Hold Strong In Haryana's Ahirwal Region Amid Jat Discontent?

With the Jat community feeling disenchanted with the BJP in Haryana, the party had heavily relied on the Ahirwal belt in the southern part of the state to secure its governments in both 2014 and 2019. Since 2014, the Ahirwal region-encompassing Gurgaon, Rewari, and Mahendergarh-has largely remained loyal to the BJP. Early trends indicate that the BJP is leading in most seats within the Ahirwal belt, with Congress trailing far behind.

A prominent leader from the Ahirwal region is Gurgaon BJP MP and Union Minister Rao Inderjit Singh. Having secured a sixth term as MP earlier this year, he has been instrumental in leading the party in the region, with many of his loyalists, including his daughter Aarti Rao, receiving tickets.

In the recent Lok Sabha elections, held just four months ago, the BJP excelled in 10 out of the 11 Assembly segments across Gurugram, Rohtak, and Bhiwani-Mahendergarh.

But what makes the Ahirwal belt, which borders Rajasthan, so significant?

The Ahirwal region in southern Haryana includes four Lok Sabha seats-Gurgaon, Rewari, Faridabad, and Bhiwani-Mahendergarh-which together account for 28 out of the total 90 Assembly seats. Over 60 percent of voters in this region live in urban areas.

In the 2014 elections, the BJP won 15 seats, and in 2019, it increased its tally to 16 seats in the Ahirwal region, even as its overall count in Haryana dropped from 47 to 40.

Key issues affecting the Ahirwal belt include urban infrastructure, waterlogging in Gurugram, and various civic challenges.

During the election campaign, the BJP highlighted the Congress's neglect of the region under former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, accusing him of focusing solely on his home area of Rohtak, which is part of the Jat belt. The BJP has also criticized Congress for undermining the prospects of southern Haryana, particularly Gurugram, despite the fact that much of the state's revenue is generated from this region.