Exit polls go wrong in Haryana

Refer to ‘Against all odds’; exit polls, once keenly awaited by voters before the results, have lost much of their credibility. The key reason for the exit polls getting it wrong could be that voters are now hesitant to reveal their preferences. As a result, political parties are also not able to judge the voters’ mood. Parties should learn a lesson from the unanticipated results in Haryana. A huge crowd at big rallies is no guarantee of votes. The victorious BJP must acknowledge that people have voted for it despite several unaddressed issues and now it should try to resolve the grievances of the public.

Yoginder Singhal, Ladwa

Results defy predictions

Refer to ‘Against all odds’; the Assembly elections in Haryana have delivered a surprising result. The BJP’s promises of a corruption-free government, combined with the Centre’s outreach, ensured that the ‘Brand Modi’ appeal remained intact. While the BJP managed its internal conflicts effectively, the Congress struggled with factionalism. Former CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda dominated the party’s ticket distribution process, favouring his loyalists over more deserving candidates. The Congress’ overemphasis on national issues such as the caste census and economic disparities failed to attract Haryana’s electorate. This misstep contributed to the party’s failure to make the most of the anti-incumbency factor.

Sanjay Chopra, Mohali

No dent in BJP’s vote bank

With reference to ‘Rahul’s missteps & BJP’s gains’; once you lose in politics, umpteen stories and narratives are circulated about the fall. After the exit poll predictions, the notion that the Congress would win hands down was prevalent everywhere and the BJP’s top leadership had silently accepted defeat. The AAP’s miscalculations and ambitions reduced the Congress’ votes substantially, with no dent in the BJP’s committed vote bank. CM Saini’s claim on the eve of the poll results that “all would be fine” raised doubts about the poll process, for people remember how the Chandigarh mayoral election was rigged.

BM Singh, Amritsar

Boost to BJP’s morale

The verdict of the Jammu & Kashmir and Haryana Assembly elections has turned to be a shocker for the Congress and a booster for the BJP. After a below-par show in the Lok Sabha elections, the BJP corrected its course and emerged as the winner in Haryana. The Congress became overconfident on seeing signs of recovery and allowed internal issues to affect its working, thus squandering the advantage, ending up as the loser for the third time in a row. The victory in Haryana and the performance in J&K have put the BJP back on track. The loss has weakened the bargaining power of the Congress in forming alliances.

DVG Sankara Rao, Vizianagaram

Work for social inclusiveness

Refer to ‘J&K’s clear verdict’; the editorial highlights that there is no room for a repetition of mistakes in Jammu and Kashmir. The National Conference (NC) has staged a comeback. The promises made by the party in its manifesto include the restoration of J&K’s ‘political and legal’ status. However, the restoration of Article 370 is itself a deviation from the Constitution as it compromises the unity and integrity of India. The restoration of Article 370 and 35A may be a legitimate demand of the NC, but the party must go beyond rhetoric and work for social inclusiveness and economic development.

Pawan Yadav, Jammu

Sharpen India’s defence strategy

Refer to ‘Indianise certainly, but also demystify defence’; India’s defence shortfalls are a matter of grave concern for national security. While the UK regularly conducts Strategic Defence Reviews (SDRs) and invests 2.5 per cent of its GDP in this sector, India spends less than 2 per cent of its GDP despite looming threats from Pakistan and China. India must initiate SDRs, modernise its forces and raise the defence budget to 3 per cent of the GDP and not rely on outdated equipment. With hostile neighbours at the gate, India must fortify its defences by prioritising advanced technology and strategic preparedness over political rhetoric and cost-cutting. Indianisation is welcome, but not at the cost of military capability.

Amarjeet Mann, Una

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