Haryana exit polls: AAP faces possible setback, Congress set for major victory

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), led by Arvind Kejriwal, may struggle to secure any seats in Haryana, according to exit polls.

The party contested 89 out of the 90 seats in the state but faced challenges in its campaign due to the absence of key leaders, including Kejriwal himself. Both he and his associate Manish Sisodia, who was recently released on bail after being arrested in connection with a liquor case, were largely missing from the campaign trail.

Although AAP did not gain any seats in the 2019 elections in Haryana, the party had hoped for a stronger performance this time, especially after gaining the "National Party" designation and expanding its influence in six states.

The elections in Haryana saw a voter turnout of over 64%, and exit polls indicate a significant victory for the Congress party. Predictions suggest Congress could secure approximately 55 seats, well above the halfway mark of 45, while the BJP is projected to win around 24 to 32 seats.

Haryana has been under BJP rule for the past decade.

Dainik Bhaskar forecasts that Congress could secure between 44 and 54 seats in the 90-member state assembly, a substantial increase from the 31 seats it held previously. In contrast, the BJP is projected to win only 15 to 29 seats, a sharp decline from the 40 it secured in the 2019 elections.

This anticipated result presents a significant challenge for the BJP, which has insisted there is no anti-incumbency sentiment in the state. The Congress has criticized the BJP's decade-long governance as a "decade of pain."

Another poll, Dhruv Research, predicts Congress could capture 50 to 60 seats, surpassing the majority threshold of 46, while the BJP may land between 22 and 32 seats.

Notably, BJP MP Naveen Jindal, who recently switched from Congress, arrived to vote on a horse, which he deemed auspicious. He emphasized that his mother, Savitri Jindal, is contesting from Hisar, and the voters will decide on their representative.

India Today-C Voter estimates that Congress will win between 50 and 58 seats, while the BJP could secure 20 to 28 seats. Peoples Pulse suggests Congress will achieve 49 to 61 seats, with the BJP possibly getting only 20 to 32 seats.

In the lead-up to the elections, the BJP expelled eight members for running as independents against Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, while the Congress also faced internal strife, expelling 13 leaders for "anti-party activities."

Additionally, another exit poll, Republic Bharat-Matrize, predicts a strong showing for Congress with 55 to 62 seats, while the BJP may only secure 18 to 24 seats. Jist-TIF Research similarly forecasts Congress winning 45 to 53 seats and the BJP taking home 29 to 37 seats.