The Congress is using excessive on its spectacular efficiency within the Lok Sabha elections, however the BJP just isn’t giving up hope in Haryana. Regardless of going through anti-incumbency and fallout from farmer protests and wrestlers’ agitation, the saffron social gathering is banking on social engineering to show the tide in its favor. Within the not too long ago concluded 2024 Lok Sabha polls, the BJP secured leads in 44 of 90 meeting seats whereas the Congress was forward in 42, and AAP in 4. Nonetheless, the BJP’s challenges run deeper, with a powerful anti-incumbency wave and a break up in votes prone to favor the Congress.
Regardless of this tight race, the BJP faces appreciable challenges. The social gathering’s efficiency within the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the place it led in 79 seats however received solely 40 within the meeting polls held six months later, highlights its struggles. The BJP can be contending with anti-incumbency and the fallout from ongoing farmer demonstrations and wrestlers’ agitations.
BJP spokesperson Sanju Verma stays optimistic, specializing in social engineering to swing the vote of their favor. Verma argued that the numerous OBC and Dalit vote shares—greater than 60% of the voters—are nonetheless up for grabs. “The OBC votes in Haryana are at greater than 40% and Dalit votes at greater than 20%, which suggests 55 to 60% of the votes are nonetheless up for grabs for the BJP,” Verma mentioned.
Psephologist Yashwant Deshmukh, talking on India In the present day, says the BJP’s non-Jat politics in Haryana may work in its favor, even when Jats vote in opposition to the social gathering. “The BJP has received two elections primarily polarising the non-Jat voters of Haryana,” he mentioned.
Deshmukh additionally identified inside points inside Congress, notably former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda’s resistance to an alliance with AAP. “Hooda stays the preferred Congress chief in Haryana, complicating efforts by the central management to handle the state of affairs,” he mentioned.
Political analyst Amitabh Tiwari, quoted in the identical report, says the BJP is assured because of pure consolidation in opposition to dominant communities within the state. “That is what BJP has been doing for the previous 10 years,” he mentioned.
Tiwari additionally highlighted the fragility of the Jat-Dalit-Muslim voter coalition, suggesting that historic tensions between Jats and Dalits may have an effect on Congress. “The BJP believes {that a} multi-cornered contest, with contenders like JJP-Bhim Military and INLD-BSP, would possibly work of their favor,” he mentioned.
