Haryana Elections 2024 Exit Polls: Exit polls suggest a strong victory for Congress in the Haryana Assembly elections, with predictions indicating 50-58 seats in the 90-member legislative assembly. This would be a significant win for the party and the INDIA bloc. Heres a breakdown of what this potential win could mean for Congress in five key points:1. Congress eyes continued Momentum from Lok Sabha gainsA Congress victory in Haryana would further build on the partys success in the recent Lok Sabha elections, where it secured five out of ten seats in the state. This is a marked improvement from the 2019 election when the BJP swept all seats. A win here would signal that the Congress is successfully translating its national-level momentum into state-level victories, especially in Northern India. Haryana, along with Himachal Pradesh, would add to Congresss growing influence in this region.2. Strong support from farmersHaryana is a significant agricultural state and was at the heart of the recent farmer protests against the now-repealed farm laws. A Congress victory here suggests strong support from the farming community, which played a crucial role in these protests. This win could be seen as a direct rejection of the BJPs policies by Haryanas farmers, who continue to agitate for a law guaranteeing a Minimum Support Price (MSP). The Congress, by tapping into this discontent, strengthens its rural base in the state.3. Getting support from Dalits and OBCsThe Congresss success in Haryana would also highlight its ability to garner significant support from the Dalit and OBC communities. The Jat-plus-Dalit strategy, crucial to the partys campaign, appears to have worked in its favor. Notably, the party did not announce a chief ministerial candidate during the campaign, which may have helped balance the ambitions of both Jat leader Bhupinder Hooda and senior Dalit leader Kumari Selja. Dalits make up 20% of Haryanas population, and their support is essential for any partys victory.4. Congress gains control of Gurugram which is a major economic hubHaryana is home to Gurugram, one of Indias biggest tech and business hubs. A Congress win here means the BJP would lose control over this key economic region. This comes after the BJPs recent losses in other tech-driven states like Telangana and Karnataka, where major cities like Hyderabad and Bengaluru also slipped from its grasp. Gurugrams significance is not only political but also economic, with substantial revenues flowing into the state from this bustling corporate center.5. Boost for the INDIA Bloc ahead of upcoming electionsA Congress victory in Haryana would provide a major boost to the INDIA bloc ahead of crucial upcoming elections in states like Maharashtra and Jharkhand. It would also have a ripple effect in neighboring Punjab, where the Congress has traditionally had a strong presence. Although the AAP won in Punjab in 2022, a victory in Haryana could reinvigorate the Congresss prospects for future elections in both Punjab and Delhi. A win would also demonstrate that the Congresss leadership changes and election strategies are paying off, signaling a comeback in regions where the party has struggled in recent years.
