Haryana polls

THE upcoming Haryana Assembly elections mark a critical juncture in the state’s political landscape. The elections have taken a decisive turn, with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) releasing its first list of 20 candidates, effectively ending alliance talks with the Congress. This development transforms the contest from a straightforward Congress-AAP vs BJP battle into a multi-cornered fight, adding complexity to an already charged political atmosphere. By fielding candidates in key Congress strongholds such as Rohtak, Bahadurgarh and Samalkha, AAP has made its intentions clear. Leaders like Anurag Dhanda contesting from Kalayat and Kuldeep Gadrana taking on the Jannayak Janta Party’s (JJP) Digvijay Chautala in Dabwali signify that AAP is positioning itself as a serious contender. The decision to go solo, particularly in segments with sitting Congress MLAs, shows the party’s ambition to gain ground beyond its urban base. AAP’s electoral success in constituencies like Kalayat in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections adds weight to this bold strategy.

Meanwhile, this shift leaves the Congress vulnerable as the splintering of the Opposition vote is likely to benefit the BJP. The ruling BJP, already facing factionalism and rural discontent, may use the fractured Opposition to its advantage, although anti-incumbency remains a formidable challenge for it.

As AAP and the Congress intensify the battle, regional players like the JJP and the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) are increasingly fading away. The JJP, which once helped the BJP form the government, is struggling to maintain its rural base, particularly after the farmers’ protests. The INLD, banking on its traditional agrarian support, remains relevant in only a handful of constituencies. The election, hitherto expected to be essentially a contest between the BJP and the Congress, now sees AAP turning it into a competition that will shape Haryana’s political future.