Polling Begins for Assembly in Haryana

Chandigarh: Polling for the 90-member Legislative Assembly in the BJP-ruled Haryana began Saturday morning. As many as 2.03 crore voters will decide the fate of 1,031 candidates in the fray casting their votes in 20,632 polling booths across the state. The contest is likely to be a bipolar one between traditional archrivals — the state’s ruling BJP and Congress.

The BJP is eying a third successive stint with its “double-engine” government. As many as 225 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) have been deployed for the smooth conduct of the polls.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged people to vote in record numbers. “Voting is taking place today for the Haryana Assembly elections. I appeal to all voters to be a part of this holy festival of democracy and set a new record of voting. On this occasion, my special best wishes to all the young friends of the state who are going to vote for the first time,” he wrote on X. First vote, then have breakfast, appealed Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who campaigned aggressively to ensure the record third straight win of the BJP in the state.

“Your one vote will work to keep Haryana free from ‘kharchi, parchi’ (the alleged system of favouritism and corruption for recruitment under Congress governments)… I urge all my sisters and brothers to vote to maintain the pace of development… Only a government with a track record of development and good governance, and not one making false promises, can bring welfare to Haryana,” he added.