The BJP is in a tough spot trying to retain its clean sweep of 10 out of 10 seats in Haryana, while the Congress, which didn't win any seats in 2019, is hopeful for a better outcome this time.
Manohar Lal Khattar, 70, a former RSS ideologue who became Haryana’s chief minister in 2014, is now facing a formidable challenge from 30-year-old Divyanshu Budhiraja of the Congress in the Karnal constituency. Despite his inexperience, Divyanshu is giving Khattar a run for his money, leveraging the anti-incumbency sentiment against Khattar to his advantage.
In Hisar, a dramatic contest is unfolding between two Chautala daughters-in-law in the Jat-dominated constituency. This area has rarely seen women candidates, making this election particularly notable. Meanwhile, in Rohtak, former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda’s son, Deepender Hooda, is in a fierce battle with BJP’s Arvind Sharma. The intense heat, with temperatures soaring above 47 degrees Celsius, hasn’t deterred candidates from vigorously campaigning.
In Karnal, Khattar is actively engaging with voters, promising to fulfill his commitments if re-elected. However, Divyanshu, the Haryana Youth Congress president, is capitalizing on the dissatisfaction with Khattar’s performance. The Congress aims to split the non-Jat and Punjabi votes that Khattar is counting on, making this a tight race.
Rohtak is a crucial constituency where the popularity of Bhupinder Hooda is being tested. Deepender Hooda faces a tough fight against the sitting BJP MP Arvind Sharma. This constituency has a significant Jat voter base, which traditionally supports the Congress. However, Deepender lost to Sharma in 2019, and this time he must secure support from areas like Kosli, dominated by the Ahir community.
In Hisar, the election sees Naina Chautala of the JJP, daughter-in-law of former CM Om Prakash Chautala, competing against Sunaina Chautala of the INLD, daughter-in-law of his elder brother, the late Pratap Chautala. This battle of prestige within the Chautala family adds an extra layer of intrigue, yet the main competition is between BJP’s Ranjit Chautala and Congress’s Jai Prakash.
As the BJP struggles to maintain its dominance, the Congress is optimistic about gaining ground, particularly in light of the ongoing farmer unrest and other local issues that may influence voter sentiment.
Intense Competition Expected in All 7 Delhi Seats Between BJP and Congress-AAP Alliance :
In New Delhi, all seven Lok Sabha constituencies, including the bustling Chandni Chowk, the prestigious New Delhi seat which has previously elected figures like Atal Bihari Vajpayee and LK Advani, and the riot-hit Northeast Delhi, are gearing up for a heated battle in the upcoming sixth phase of polling. The BJP, which has dominated these seats for the past two terms, faces a formidable challenge from the Congress and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) alliance, formed for the first time under the I.N.D.I.A bloc.
Prominent leaders such as Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who is campaigning while out on interim bail, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge, along with several state chief ministers, are actively canvassing in the capital. Prime Minister Modi also held a rally in Dwarka on Wednesday to galvanize support.
In Chandni Chowk, the BJP has replaced former Union Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan with Praveen Khandelwal, the general secretary of the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT). He faces Congress veteran JP Agrawal, who previously represented the seat but lost to Dr. Vardhan in the last election. This time, Agrawal is receiving support from both Rahul Gandhi and Arvind Kejriwal, highlighting the alliance’s commitment.
Northeast Delhi sees a clash between two Bihar-born leaders: BJP’s sitting MP Manoj Tiwari and Congress’s Kanhaiya Kumar, a prominent figure from the 2016 student protests at Jawaharlal Nehru University. Both are appealing to the Purvanchali voters, migrants from Eastern Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
The New Delhi constituency features Bansuri Swaraj, daughter of the late BJP veteran Sushma Swaraj, as the BJP candidate, replacing former Union minister Meenakshi Lekhi. She is up against former AAP legislator Somnath Bharti. BJP leader Harish Khurana is confident in the party’s prospects, citing the PM’s infrastructure projects and his promise to tackle pollution in his next tenure.
Within the I.N.D.I.A bloc, Congress and AAP leaders are vigorously campaigning across each other’s strongholds. Rahul Gandhi has been active in Chandni Chowk and held multiple meetings on Thursday, while Kejriwal has campaigned extensively in various constituencies.
