Tue Oct 08 13:11:31 UTC 2024: ## BJP Wins Third Consecutive Term in Haryana, Defying Exit Polls

**Chandigarh:** In a surprising turn of events, the BJP has secured a historic third consecutive term in Haryana, defying exit poll predictions. Despite facing anti-incumbency, the party maintained its stronghold in urban areas, particularly in the major IT and manufacturing hubs of Gurugram and Faridabad.

While the Congress made gains in rural areas, the BJP’s core support base remained loyal, allowing them to retain their vote share in both urban and rural regions. The BJP secured decisive victories in key urban constituencies like Gurgaon, Faridabad, Ballabhgarh, Sonipat, Karnal and Badshahpur, with only Panchkula falling to the Congress.

Analysts attribute the BJP’s success to a combination of factors, including strategic messaging, caste equations, and targeted campaigning. The BJP strategically focused on consolidating the non-Jat or OBC vote in urban areas, where the Jat population is relatively low and disenchanted with the party due to concerns over Minimum Support Price (MSP) and agriculture policies. This strategy involved elevating OBC leader Nayab Singh Saini to a prominent position and bringing current Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar to the Centre.

The party also capitalized on fear among the business community, particularly in Gurgaon and Faridabad, by highlighting the threat of extortion if the Congress came to power. The BJP further reinforced the perception that a Congress victory would result in the concentration of jobs and opportunities in Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda’s stronghold of Rohtak, effectively alienating urban voters.

The Congress campaign, focused on a “corporate versus farmers” narrative, failed to resonate with the urban population, despite Rahul Gandhi’s rhetoric criticizing the Modi government’s alleged favoritism towards industrialists.

This victory marks a significant win for the BJP in Haryana, solidifying their dominance in the state and reinforcing their ability to adapt and strategize in a changing political landscape.

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