Polling for all 90 Assembly seats in Haryana commenced early Saturday amid tight security, with over two crore voters eligible to participate. The outcome of this election will determine the political fate of key figures like Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, Congress leaders Bhupinder Singh Hooda and Vinesh Phogat, JJP's Dushyant Chautala, and 1,027 other candidates.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is seeking a third consecutive victory in Haryana, while the Congress is aiming to make a comeback after a decade. Union Home Minister Amit Shah took to social media, urging the people of Haryana to vote to keep the state corruption-free.

In his post, Shah said, "The people of Veer Bhoomi Haryana are voting today. Your one vote will ensure that Haryana remains free from corruption and exploitation. I urge everyone to vote for a government that will bring development to every village, not just to one district."

Shah emphasized that only a government with a proven track record of good governance can bring true progress to the state.

Today’s election is crucial as the BJP aims to retain power, while the Congress seeks to capitalize on anti-incumbency sentiment. Major issues, including farmer protests and the concerns of wrestlers, are expected to influence the vote.

Key political parties in the fray include the BJP, Congress, and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), alongside alliances such as INLD-BSP and JJP-Azad Samaj Party. Voting will take place from 7 am to 6 pm across 20,632 polling booths.

In the 2019 Assembly elections, the BJP secured 40 out of 90 seats and formed a coalition government with JJP, which won 10 seats. Congress came in close with 31 seats. The JJP has since parted ways with the coalition.

A total of 1,031 candidates, including 101 women and 464 independent contenders, are vying for seats in this election. Some of the prominent candidates include Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini (Ladwa), Bhupinder Singh Hooda (Garhi Sampla-Kiloi), Abhay Singh Chautala (INLD, Ellenabad), and Dushyant Chautala (JJP, Uchana Kalan). Others include BJP's Anil Vij (Ambala Cantonment), "Captain" Abhimanyu (Narnaund), and Congress’s Vinesh Phogat (Julana).

Several notable independent candidates, such as Savitri Jindal (Hisar) and Ranjit Chautala (Rania), are also contesting.

Director General of Police Shatrujeet Kapur assured voters that security measures are in place, with nearly 30,000 police personnel and 225 paramilitary companies deployed across the state to ensure free and fair elections.

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