The Bharatiya Janata Party did not give tickets to two cabinet ministers, Banwari Lal and Ranjit Singh, and two ministers of state, Seema Trikha and Bishambar Singh, but Ranjit Singh contested as an Independent.
Of the five cabinet ministers who contested this election, only Mool Chand Sharma won, while four others lost. Of the five ministers of state who contested, only Mahipal Dhanda won, while the other four lost.
Political analysts believe that 8 out of 10 ministers losing in this election reflects the anti-incumbency of 10 years and anger against the ruling BJP, as also observed during the Lok Sabha in Haryana. The BJP, they say, can not ignore these realities despite winning this election.
“The anger against the BJP government on issues such as unemployment, kisan, jawan, Samvidhan, etc., was palpable during this assembly election. People vented this anger by defeating most of Saini’s ministers, and their discontent will likely remain alive and trouble the BJP government in the coming months. The BJP winning the election does not mean there was no anger against the BJP,” said Kushal Pal, a political science professor and principal at the Indira Gandhi Government College, Ladwa.
People vote on issues, or they vote based on their social identity, or sometimes, both, Pal said, adding that voters factored in both this election.
“On one hand, people had issues — 10 years of anti-incumbency, inflation, unemployment, inept handling of farmers’ issues, the wrestlers’ issue, and the Agniveer scheme. But, on the other hand, social identity in terms of caste became a major factor,” said Pal. “The BJP had tried to plug anti-incumbency to an extent by changing the chief minister in March. So, people who had problems with the BJP but, because of their social identity, the Congress as well, gave vent to their frustrations by voting against Saini’s ministers but, at the same time, took care so that the Congress did not come to power.”
Issues, social identity and how they played out
Kushal Pal said that the most interesting aspect of this election is that the BJP did not seem to be making any efforts to polarise voters because it had taken this election to be a lost game. In contrast, the Congress handed the BJP a pitch to play its game of polarisation in the last ten to 12 days of campaigning.
“The infighting within the Congress…a narrative spread that Hooda distributed 72 tickets, and he was sure to become the next CM. A senior Dalit leader, recently elected MP with a huge margin, went silent during the election. Other leaders pretended nothing had happened, and Rahul Gandhi tried to make the two leaders shake hands when both were looking uncomfortable,” Pal explained.
“This all gave the BJP enough material to tell people that the rule of a single dominant caste was about to come — where Dalits were going to be treated shabbily. The BJP used (2010) Mirchpur Kand (the torching of a dozen Dalit homes) to the hilt, and Congress’s Dalit leader’s statements made people not belonging to the dominant caste believe they may not feel safe if the Congress comes to power,” Pal added.
He said that even the BJP did not expect to benefit from this polarisation to the extent it has, coming to power for the third consecutive time in Haryana. “Had it known, PM Modi and Amit Shah would not have lost the opportunity of campaigning during the last two to three days,” Pal said.
Kushal Pal said that Deepender Singh Hooda going to the airport to receive Vinesh Phogat, with the Congress giving her a ticket later, and Rahul Gandhi visiting the family of a Jat youth whom he met in the USA built the narrative that the Congress was for the Jats alone.
“I am not saying that receiving Vinesh was wrong. She deserved every reception. Even Rahul Gandhi’s gesture was not wrong. But, in politics, one has to balance things. Rahul having meals at the residence of a Dalit could have been a balancing act,” he added.
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Who lost and who won
In Panchkula, Congress candidate Chander Mohan, the eldest son of former CM Bhajan Lal, defeated BJP candidate Gian Chand Gupta by a margin of 1,997 votes. Gian Chand Gupta served as the Speaker in the government of Manohar Lal and Nayab Singh Saini.
In Loharu, Congress candidate Rajbir Fartia defeated cabinet minister J.P. Dalal by a margin of 792 votes. J.P. Dalal was the agriculture minister during Manohar Lal’s tenure as CM and was appointed finance minister in Nayab Saini’s government.
In Rania, INLD-BSP candidate Arjun Chautala won by a margin of 4,191 votes against Congress candidate Sarvmitra Kamboj. Meanwhile, minister Ranjit Singh, who ran as an Independent, finished third with 36,401 votes. Ranjit Singh had won the 2019 election as an Independent before becoming the minister of power and jails.
In Hisar, Savitri Jindal, the wealthiest woman in India, won by a margin of 18,941 votes against Congress candidate Ram Niwas Rara. Meanwhile, BJP candidate and health minister Kamal Gupta finished third, with 17,385 votes.
In Ambala City, Congress candidate Nirmal Singh won by 11,131 votes against BJP candidate and minister Aseem Goel, who was the transport minister in Nayab Saini’s government.
In Thanesar, Congress candidate Ashok Kumar Arora won by 3,243 votes against BJP candidate and minister Subhash Sudha, who became the municipal minister after Nayab Saini became CM.
In Nuh, Congress candidate Aftab Ahmed won by 46,963 votes against the INLD-BSP candidate. Meanwhile, BJP candidate and minister Sanjay Singh finished third with 15,902 votes. Sanjay Singh became a minister after Nayab Singh Saini became CM.
In Nangal Chaudhary, Congress candidate Manju Chaudhary won by 6,930 votes against BJP candidate and minister Abhe Singh Yadav, who also became a minister after Nayab Singh Saini became CM.
In Jagadhri, Congress candidate Chaudhary Akram Khan won by 6,868 votes against BJP candidate Kanwar Pal, who was the assembly Speaker in Manohar Lal Khattar’s first term and a cabinet minister in his second term. In Nayab Saini’s cabinet, Kanwar Pal became a cabinet minister, ranked next to Saini.
In the Ballabgarh assembly seat, cabinet minister Mool Chand Sharma won against Congress rebel Sharda Rathore by a margin of 17,730 votes. Congress candidate Parag Sharma finished fourth, with only 8,674 votes.
In Panipat Rural, BJP candidate and minister of state Mahipal Dhanda won by 50,212 votes against Congress candidate Sachin Kundu. Mahipal Dhanda, who became a minister after Nayab Saini became CM, has now won this seat for the third consecutive time.
(Edited by Madhurita Goswami)
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