Haryana Elections caste dynamics will play a crucial role as the state prepares for a major electoral battle between the incumbent BJP, which has a lot at stake, and a Congress party that is working to rebuild its presence in northern India.
Elections for the ninety-member assembly of the state will be held on October 5, with results announced on October 8, alongside those of Jammu and Kashmir.
Political Parties Contesting the Elections
The BJP remains the current party in power in the state under Chief Minister Nayab Saini. After alliance talks between the Congress and Aam Aadmi Party failed due to differences over seat sharing, both parties are contesting the elections independently.
Regional political players, Jannayak Janata Party and Azad Samaj Party, have formed an alliance to contest Haryana’s Assembly Polls, adding complexity to the Haryana Elections caste dynamics.
The Role of Caste Equations in Haryana’s Politics
Caste-based divisions are a significant part of Haryana’s social fabric, making Haryana Elections caste dynamics a critical factor in the outcome. Both the BJP and Congress have carefully analyzed the caste demographics of each assembly seat to strategically field candidates.
Of the total 90 seats in the assembly, 38 candidates from the same caste are contesting against each other — Jats against Jats, OBCs against OBCs, according to a report by The Print. This is a clear reflection of the Haryana Elections caste dynamics, where both parties are trying to navigate the caste-based competition for votes.
Both parties are working to build their vote banks by targeting specific castes or groups within the state. These Haryana Elections caste dynamics are shaping the political strategies of both the BJP and Congress as they look to secure a win in this tightly contested election.
Caste-wise Distribution of Haryana’s Population
The BJP appears to be relying on the support of the OBC community, which constitutes 35% of the state’s population, by fielding 22 OBC candidates. Another strategic move has been projecting OBC leader Nayab Saini as the party’s Chief Ministerial candidate, emphasizing their focus on Haryana Elections caste dynamics.
On the other hand, Congress is aiming to consolidate the votes of the Jat community, led by the popular Jat leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda. Jats make up 22% of the state’s population, making them another influential group. As a result, Congress has fielded 28 candidates from this community.
Key Candidates in the Elections
Here’s a list of the prominent candidates and the seats they are contesting in Haryana’s elections:
- Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini has been nominated by the BJP to contest from the Ladwa seat, where he faces sitting Congress MLA Mewa Singh.
- Congress stalwart and former Chief Minister of Haryana, Bhupinder Singh Hooda, is contesting from the Garhi Sampla Kiloi seat (known as the Jat heartland) in Rohtak, against BJP’s Manju Hooda, the chairperson of the Rohtak Zilla Parishad.
- Indian wrestler and star athlete Vinesh Phogat, who recently joined Congress, is contesting from the Jhulana seat against Captain Yogesh Bairagi of the BJP, a former pilot and current vice president of the party’s youth wing.
Regulations Before Elections
The Model Code of Conduct for poll-bound Haryana was released by the Election Commission and came into effect on August 16. Since then, law enforcement agencies have seized narcotics, liquor, and unaccounted cash worth ₹26.82 crore from various locations across the state.
“To ensure that the elections are held in a completely fair and transparent manner, all guidelines issued by the Election Commission of India, along with the Model Code of Conduct, are being strictly followed,” said Chief Electoral Officer Pankaj Agarwal.
The Commission is maintaining a strict stance, closely monitoring illegal activities such as the distribution of liquor and narcotics to prevent voter inducement in Haryana.
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