Haryana Assembly Elections Predictions: Dainik Bhaskar Exit Poll Signals Power Shift; Cong To Defeat BJP

Voting for the 90 assembly seats in Haryana concluded on Saturday, marking the end of a closely watched election. As polling wrapped up, exit polls have predicted a significant shift in the state's political landscape, with the Congress likely to emerge as the leading party.

According to Dainik Bhaskar's exit poll predictions, the BJP, which currently holds power in the state, is expected to win between 15 and 29 seats, a steep drop from its 2019 performance when it secured 40 seats. The Congress, on the other hand, is projected to bag between 44 and 54 seats, signalling a strong resurgence and the potential for a return to power.

The Jannayak Janta Party (JJP), which played a key role in the formation of the BJP-led government in 2019, is predicted to win between 0 and 1 seats, alongside a similar forecast for others. The "Others" category, which includes smaller parties and independent candidates, is expected to secure 4 to 9 seats.

In the previous 2019 assembly elections, the BJP formed a government by allying with the JJP after securing 40 seats, while the Congress managed 31 seats.
The exit polls suggest that the anti-incumbency factor, combined with a resurgent Congress, might prove to be a formidable challenge for the ruling party.

This election sees a multi-cornered contest with several political parties vying for control of the state. In addition to the BJP and Congress, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has also fielded candidates, while the JJP has entered into an alliance with the Azad Samaj Party.

Meanwhile, the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) has teamed up with the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), adding to the complexity of the electoral landscape.

Adding intrigue to the political contest are several candidates hailing from prominent political families, including relatives of Haryana's three famous "Lals" - former chief ministers Bansi Lal, Devi Lal, and Bhajan Lal. The involvement of their kin, some of whom are competing against each other, has made the election a high-stakes family affair.

Haryana's Chief Electoral Officer Pankaj Agarwal said that over 2 crore voters were eligible to cast their votes in the October 5 polls, including 8,821 centenarians, with women outnumbering men in this group.