The  election results in Haryana have taken an unexpected turn, contradicting earlier predictions from exit polls. Initially, the counting process seemed to favor the Congress party, aligning with many pre-election forecasts. However, as the counting progressed, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) began to gain momentum, surpassing Congress. As of midday, the BJP is leading in 49 out of 90 seats, while Congress is ahead in 34 seats.

This election took place on October 5, with a voter turnout of 67.90%. Prior to the results, numerous exit polls had anticipated a Congress victory. In contrast, the BJP had expressed confidence in returning to power for a third consecutive term.

The early hours of counting saw a back-and-forth battle between Congress and the BJP. For a time, Congress supporters celebrated their initial success at their Delhi office with sweets and fireworks. However, as the BJP started to pull ahead, celebrations shifted to their headquarters, where snacks and laddoos were shared with media personnel. While the atmosphere at the Congress office grew somber, party leaders Bhupinder Singh Hooda and Kumari Shelja remained optimistic. Hooda said, "The Congress is winning in Haryana."

If current trends hold, the BJP is poised to achieve its best performance in the state, securing a third consecutive term. In the previous assembly elections in 2019, the BJP won 40 seats, while Congress secured 31 and the Jannayak Janta Party (JJP) won 10. The BJP then formed a government with support from the JJP, but that alliance has since ended, and the JJP is facing difficulties in this election.

It's important to note that the counting process is still ongoing, and many rounds of counting remain. The counting for all 90 assembly seats began at 93 centers across 22 districts of Haryana, with heightened security measures in place. The BJP aims to maintain its power, while Congress hopes to make a comeback after a decade-long absence from governance.

The main contenders in this election include the BJP, Congress, Aam Aadmi Party, INLD-BSP, and JJP-Azad Samaj Party. Despite the various players, the focal point in Haryana is the direct competition between the BJP and Congress in several key constituencies.

A total of 1,031 candidates, including 464 Independents and 101 women, are contesting for the state's 90 seats. In the last Haryana Assembly elections, the BJP secured 40 seats, while Congress got 31, and the JJP led by Dushyant Chautala won 10. After the election results, the BJP formed a coalition with the JJP, but that partnership ended six months ago when Nayab Singh Saini became the new Chief Minister of Haryana.

In the recently conducted 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP experienced a notable decline, winning only 5 out of 10 seats in the state, which has given Congress renewed hope for a positive outcome in the assembly elections.

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