Haryana and Jammu & Kashmir Election Results 2024: A New Political Shift

Haryana Election Results 2024: BJP Secures Historic Victory

In Haryana, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has made history by securing a third consecutive term in power, winning 48 of the 90 assembly seats. The party’s success is largely credited to Nayab Singh Saini, who replaced Manohar Lal Khattar as Chief Minister and led a successful campaign. The BJP’s victory comes with increased support from OBC and SC communities, resulting from focused outreach and development initiatives.

Key Highlights:

• BJP’s Performance: The BJP surpassed the majority mark of 46 seats, reinforcing its dominance in Haryana. Prime Minister Narendra Modi called it a “historic hat-trick,” as no party in Haryana has previously achieved three consecutive terms.
• Congress Response: The Indian National Congress (INC) managed to secure 37 seats, improving from its previous performance but still falling short. The party’s focus on Jat community votes and sidelining of key Dalit leaders was seen as a strategic misstep. Bhupinder Singh Hooda, the party’s face in the state, held on to his seat but failed to push the party to victory.
• Other Parties: The Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) won just two seats, while the Jannayak Janta Party (JJP), which had partnered with BJP in 2019, failed to win any seats, marking a significant decline in its influence.

The overall voter turnout in Haryana was 72%, indicating strong public engagement with the election process.

Jammu & Kashmir Election Results 2024: NC-Congress Alliance Dominates

In Jammu & Kashmir, the results of the first assembly election since the abrogation of Article 370 have given a significant mandate to the National Conference (NC)-Congress alliance, which won 48 out of 90 seats. This victory marks a political comeback for the NC, with Omar Abdullah and Farooq Abdullah playing key roles in securing this win.

Key Highlights:

• NC-Congress Success: The alliance dominated in the Kashmir Valley, where Omar Abdullah won comfortably in Budgam and Ganderbal, reestablishing NC’s position in the region. Congress also contributed by securing seats in urban constituencies like Srinagar and Anantnag.
• BJP in Jammu: The BJP held its ground in the Jammu region, winning 29 seats, but struggled in the Valley. The party was expected to perform better given its focus on the “Naya Kashmir” narrative, but this did not translate into votes in key constituencies. Despite this, Prime Minister Modi praised the peaceful conduct of the elections, emphasizing the importance of democracy in the region.
• Other Parties: The People’s Democratic Party (PDP), led by Mehbooba Mufti, won just three seats, reflecting a decline in its influence. However, the surprise win by AAP’s Mehraj Malik in Doda was a notable moment, signaling the entry of new players in the region’s politics.

The overall voter turnout in Jammu & Kashmir was 65%, reflecting the people’s eagerness to participate in this critical election after years of central rule.

The Road Ahead

Both regions are now gearing up for the challenges ahead. In Haryana, the BJP will need to address the growing concerns of rural voters and unemployment, while Nayab Singh Saini is expected to introduce new policies aimed at improving the socio-economic conditions of marginalized communities. In Jammu & Kashmir, the NC-Congress alliance will face the daunting task of governing a region that continues to deal with socio-political complexities and ensuring development in both the Jammu and Kashmir Valley.

As Haryana celebrates its historic third-term BJP government and Jammu & Kashmir prepares for a new era under NC-Congress, the political dynamics in these states will shape their futures significantly.

Image Credit: NDTV