Haryana Exit Poll: We will form the govt with full majority on October 8, says CM Saini

RJD president Lalu Prasad on Sunday asserted that the victory of Congress in the Haryana assembly elections, as predicted by exit polls, should be viewed as a defeat of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Replying to queries by journalists before boarding his flight to Delhi, the former Bihar Chief Minister said, "Ye paraajay hai Narendra Modi ka (this should be seen as a defeat of Narendra Modi)." Prasad is expected to appear before a court in Delhi on Monday in connection with the land-for-jobs scam during his tenure as Railway Minister in the previous UPA government. Several of his family members are also named in the case and are likely to accompany him to court.

Congress MP Deepender Singh Hooda said, "Congress is making a comeback (in North India). In Haryana, the people have elected Congress with a big majority and have ended the misrule of the BJP. The way our top leadership have worked hard, the day Rahul Gandhi came to Haryana during his Bharat Jodo Yatra, the mood of Haryana started to change in favour of Congress...Exit poll has given us direction and we will see it in the results"

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi said, "...As far as the Congress party is concerned, if you look at the recent exit polls, you're seeing the return of the Congress party whether it's in Haryana or Jammu and Kashmir with National Conference. INDIA alliance, along with the Congress is going to do exceedingly well...The people of Haryana were exceedingly upset with the current dispensation. In J&K, though the PM kept speaking about development and zero tolerance to terrorism, we continued to see how Kashmiri Pandits were also isolated when there were targeted killings and the economy was collapsing. So it is an outcome of all the frustration that has been built up..."

On exit polls, Congress MP Kumari Selja said, "... According to my assessment, Congress will win more than 60 seats... Congress is being seen as a viable alternative... There was heavy anti-incumbency, especially the weaker sections felt suppressed... BJP never had any connection or communication with the common people... Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra was the turning point..."

On demands for a Dalit or woman CM for Haryana, she said, "All these decisions and considerations rest with the party high command. I believe that all these aspects will be considered."

Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini said, "We will not need any kind of alliance, I have said from the very beginning that the BJP will form the govt alone. We have all the arrangements... I am confident that BJP will alone form the government but if we need that (alliance) we will give it a thought, we have all the arrangements."

Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini said, "...I would like to thank 2 cr 80 lakh people of Haryana for participating in a successful election process by maintaining social harmony and brotherhood. I thank all the officials and those who facilitated this festival of democracy... I thank the Haryana police and paramilitary personnel.."

Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini says, "I thank the top leadership of my party those who have guided us in this election - PM Modi, party's national president JP Nadda, Union HM Amit Shah and defence minister Rajnath Singh. I thank lakhs of party workers in Haryana... We will form the govt and that too with a full majority on October 8, I have this report. '8 taarikh ko janta degi jawaab aur ye (Congress) kahenge EVM hai kharab'..."

"The Mahayuti that he has come for, is not Mahayuti but the Mahajhoothi alliance. They have cheated Maharashtra and talked only lies, and the PM is involved. Everyone knows that Narendra Modi and Amit Shah is responsible for breaking the two state-level parties. Wherever PM Modi went in LS election, BJP lost. He has become the brand ambassador of Maha Vikas Aghadi. Whenever he comes here, the people are reminded how industrial projects were shifted to Gujarat. They talk women safety, but are often found saving the accused. People will teach them a lesson," says Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Priyanka Chaturvedi (@priyankac19).

“Considering the way the Kashmiri people faced the betrayal, and a lot of time got wasted in conducting the elections, the (election) result is clear. In Haryana as well, many farmers staged protests. We are familiar with their pain. They were only waiting for an opportunity and this election became that opportunity for them to show that BJP will face the defeat,” says CPI (M) leader Hannan Mollah on Haryana, and Jammu and Kashmir election exit polls.

Haryana Assembly Election 2024: "One thing is clear, BJP is losing badly in Haryana. Now the next question is, who will form the government and who will the public give a chance for change? That’s something we will have to wait and see. I think we should wait for the results on the 8th," said AAP leader Sandeep Pathak

On Exit polls, Haryana AAP President Sushil Gupta said, "...The entire campaign of AAP in Haryana was centred around removing the corrupt BJP from power. BJP government will be removed from power. AAP will get a huge vote share in the Haryana assembly elections..."

On Exit polls, BJP National Spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari says, "In J&K, a BJP-led government will be formed...The elections which were held after the abrogation of Article 370 were a historical moment and a victory for democracy... I am hopeful that in Haryana also BJP will form the government for the third time...When results will be declared on 8th October, neither Bhupinder Singh Hooda nor Kumari Selja, a BJP CM will be elected"

On Exit polls, Congress leader Captain Ajay Singh Yadav says, "Congress will win more than 55 seats in the Haryana Assembly elections...We will get the full majority. The CM face will be decided by the Congress high command"

PDP leader Qamar Hussain Choudhary said, "... Exit poll results are very encouraging. Like-minded secular parties will come together to form the government..."

On statements made by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, he says, "We have nothing to do with Pakistan. We will talk to our country's government..."

On exit polls, Congress leader and party candidate from Dooru constituency, Ghulam Ahmad Mir said, "This question is not only about Haryana. Elections are going to be held in 4 states in a row... BJP is going to be wiped out in Jammu and Kashmir. There is a good wave of Congress in Haryana too... Congress will form the government there (Haryana) with full majority. Elections are also going to be held in Maharashtra in the coming days and there too NCP-Congress and Uddhav Thackeray's party will achieve tremendous success...BJP will be completely wiped out in these elections"

"I can see that (BJP) government will be formed in Jammu and Kashmir,” BJP leader and sex crime accused Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh said on October 6.

The counting of votes for both the Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections will take place on October 8.

The J&K assembly election for 90 constituencies was held over three phases on September 18, September 25 and October 1, respectively. Meanwhile, polling for the 90 seats of the Haryana Assembly ended on October 5.

The Haryana assembly elections on Saturday saw a turnout of over 66 per cent, with several exit polls predicting a clear majority for the Congress, which is eyeing a comeback after a decade.

According to the Election Commission's statement, the single phase of polls in 90 assembly seats held from 7 am to 6 pm concluded largely peacefully, except for stray incidents of minor scuffles.

Poll panel data available at 11:55 pm showed the turnout was 66.96 per cent. However, it will increase once all information comes in, said officials.

In the 2019 assembly polls, Haryana had recorded around 68 per cent turnout while in the Lok Sabha elections for 10 seats earlier this year, the percentage was 64.8.

Former law minister Ashwani Kumar on Saturday said the high voting trend recorded in the Haryana Assembly elections signals a "decisive vote for change" with the Congress as the "people's preferred choice". He said in case the Congress romps home to power, which is likely, the political message for the BJP from the Hindi heartland will be "discomforting". He, however, said the individual popularity of Prime Narendra Modi seems "largely intact". (PTI)

A recent survey by the Centre for Global Studies at Delhi University predicted that the Congress is set to form the government in Haryana, while its alliance with National Conference in Jammu and Kashmir is likely to secure a majority. The online survey, carried out between September 11 and October 3, involved 8,429 voters across 90 constituencies in each state. According to the survey results, the Congress is expected to secure 46 seats out of 90 in Haryana, edging out the BJP, which is predicted to win 38 seats. (PTI)

Reacting to the exit polls, Vinesh Phogat told NDTV, "This is a joyous day for the people of Haryana. They endured a lot over the past decade, and today’s result reflects that. The people have responded to ten years of suffering and oppression."

The exit polls results for the Haryana Assembly elections have predicted a big win for the Congress party while the BJP is expected to fall well short of the majority mark of 46 seats in the 90-member Haryana Assembly. A poll of exit poll numbers show the Congress making a strong comeback in the state and ending its decade-long hiatus from power in the state. As per the exit poll predictions, the Congress is projected to win 55 seats in the 90-member Haryana Assembly where the majority mark is 46. The ruling BJP, on the other hand is a distant second at 26 seats, JJP-Azad Samaj Party at 1, INLD-BSP at 1, and Others at 8. (Read More)

The exit poll conducted by Jist-TIF Research predicts that Congress will secure between 45 to 53 seats, while the BJP is expected to win 29 to 30 seats in Haryana

Haryana Exit Poll 2024 Live Updates: CPI's D Raja says, 'Farmers are angry with the BJP'

Haryana Exit Poll 2024 Live Updates: Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini reacts on exit poll predictions

Former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda stated in an interview with CNN-News18 that the people of the state are determined to bring the Congress back to power. "People have made up their minds to bring Congress to power. The BJP has not done anything for Haryana; there is no law and order in the state under BJP rule," he remarked, following exit polls predicting a clear victory for the Congress in the recently concluded assembly elections.

While the exit polls have given a clear edge to Congress with the grand old party making a comeback in Haryana, the power corridors are already abuzz with chatter around who will be the next Chief Minister of Haryana. The Congress had never announced a CM face in the Assembly elections of Haryana. So, while the exit polls have predicted a majority for Congress, there is no clarity on who will the CM. When asked about this to, Bhupinder Hooda told NDTV that the decision of the CM candidate will be taken by the ‘MLAs and high command.’

Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha stated on Saturday that the people of Haryana will be the ones to decide whether the state is led by forces that strengthen the country or by those that weaken it.

"This is the grand festival of democracy. The public will choose whether those who undermine the nation or those who empower it will progress. Whether those who resort to appeasement through caste and religious slogans will advance or those who stand for 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas' will move forward. The people will make this decision," he remarked.

In the first reaction on the exit poll results, the BJP says that the actual numbers on October 8 will be better than this. "The results will be better than this. BJP will form a government with a full majority in both Haryana and J&K. People's blessings are with BJP...Double engine government will be formed," says BJP National General Secretary Tarun Chugh.

As the single-day polling for the Haryana Assembly elections wraps up, the 2024 exit poll results indicate that Congress is set to secure a comfortable and big majority. (Read More)

• An average of eight exit polls predicted:
• BJP: 61 seatsCongress: 18 seatsActual results:
• BJP: 40 seats (21 seats fewer than predicted)Congress: 31 seats (13 seats more than predicted)Seven polls projected that the BJP would reach the majority mark alone.
• NewsX-Pollstrat: Predicted BJP would win 75-80 seats.India Today-Axis: Only one to project BJP falling short with 32-44 seats.Congress predictions:
• Only three polls estimated the Congress would surpass 20 seats.Just one poll predicted it would cross 30 seats.India Today-Axis: Most accurate, projecting 30-42 seats for the Congress.

In 2019, despite most polls predicting a decisive BJP victory, with some forecasting over 70 seats for the party, the election concluded with a hung Assembly as no party managed to secure a majority.

The polls fell slightly short for both the BJP and Congress, which secured 47 and 15 seats, respectively. However, pollsters underestimated the INLD’s performance by an average of eight seats, as the party ended up with 19 seats. Two surveys—News 24-Chanakya and ABP News-Nielsen—had projected that the BJP would cross the majority mark. Times Now and India TV-CVoter accurately predicted the Congress’s final tally, while News24-Chanakya came closest to the INLD’s score.

In 2014, the BJP ended the Congress's 10-year rule by coming to power. An average of four exit polls had forecasted that the BJP would narrowly miss the 46-seat majority mark in the 90-seat Assembly. While these polls projected the BJP to secure 43 seats on average, the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) was expected to finish second with 27 seats, followed by the Congress with 13 seats.

• BJP - 20-32
• Congress - 49-61
• JJP- 0-1
• INLD 2-3

The Matrize Exit Poll predict BJP winning 18-24 seats in the polls. The exit poll predicts the Congress making a comeback in Haryana with 55-62 seats. INLD is likely to be restricted to 3-6 seats, the Matrize exit polls say. JJP is likely to het 3 seats. Others are likely to get between 2-5 seats

Exit poll results for the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly election will be released shortly. The elections which were conducted in three phases on September 18, 25 and October 1 were watched out keenly across the country as it was the first since the abrogation of Article 370. (Check Live Updates)

If the stakes are high for Nayab Saini to guide the BJP to its third straight term in power, the battle is equally crucial for Bhupinder Singh Hooda, the old war horse who refuses to hand his boots. Hit by infighting and a battle for supremacy within the state unit of the party, Hooda is believed to have had his way so far, regardless of the resistance from the high command. Adverse results, however, could bear heavy on him. The strongest claimant to the post of Chief Minister from the Congress, this would possibly prove Hooda's biggest battle in recent times.

Haryana AAP president Sushil Gupta says that the Aam Aadmi Party will emerge as the third option in Haryana. He said that people have voted for change.

There are several factors that the BJP faces in the state as it fights to retain power for a third straight term. Anti-incumbency is definitely the biggest among them. The BJP has been in power in the state for 10 years and has seen a change of guard midway into the second term. The 2019 elections delivered a hung verdict and the BJP barely managed to hold on to power with the support of JJP. The exit of Manohar Lal Khattar as the CM and the appointment of Nayab Singh Saini on the post was also a gamble that the BJP took, though well ahead of polls. The Jat anger, the farmers' agitation and the resentment against the Agnipath scheme are also factors that could weigh on the BJP.

Haryana Assembly has 90 seats. Thus, the majority mark in the state assembly is 46.

Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini criticised the Congress on Saturday over an alleged molestation attempt involving a party worker on stage, stating that the party lacks respect for everyone, including women, and that this behavior reflects their culture. He further emphasized that appropriate action will be taken if a formal complaint is received.

• Ambala – 62.26%
• Yamunanagar – 67.93
• Panchkula – 54.71
• Mewat – 68.28
• Kurukshetra – 65.55
• Faridabad – 51.28
• Kaithal – 62.53
• Rewari – 60.91
• Charkhi Dadri – 58.10
• Panipat – 60.52
• Sonipat – 55.69
• Gurugram – 49.97
• Karnal – 60.42
• Jind – 66.02
• Mahendragarh – 65.76
• Sirsa – 65.37
• Hisar – 64.16
• Bhiwani – 63.06
• Fatehabad – 67.05
• Palwal – 67.69
• Jhajjar – 60.52
• Rohtak – 60.56

As per the latest update, Haryana recorded 61 percent voter turnout. The voting has concluded in the states. Mewat recorded the highest turnout with 68.3 percent ballots cast. On the other hand, Gurugram recorded the lowest voter turnout.

The exit poll predictions for the Haryana Assembly elections are expected to be released shortly. The stakes are high for the traditional rivals in the state who have both led aggressive campaigns in the state. For the BJP, the elections are a test of resilience in the face of a decade-long anti-incumbency and the resentment it has faced from Jats and farmers in the state. The Congress, upbeat over restricting the BJP to 5 of the 10 Lok Sabha seats in the state earlier this year, would like to push ahead with the momentum and end its decade-long power drought.

Reacting on the incident of alleged molestation of a Congress worker during a rally, Congress lawmaker Kumari Selja said that she spoke with the woman. "She told me that some people were touching her and trying to remove her from the stage. We saw the same in the video as well and when I confirmed this with her, she told me that someone misbehaved with her. If something like this happens to a woman today, it is highly condemnable. Action should be taken on this..."

As per the data available in public domain, Haryana has about 5% Sikhs and 7% Muslims.

Nayab Saini accused the Congress party of engaging in the politics of "lies and theft," while Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda expressed confidence that his party would secure a strong majority in the upcoming elections. Former Haryana Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala also expressed optimism about his alliance with the Aazad Samaj Party (Kanshi Ram), asserting that their coalition would achieve considerable success. Meanwhile, wrestler-turned-politician Vinesh Phogat highlighted that the public had not forgotten the BJP's treatment of farmers and commended Hooda for his contributions to improving sports in the state.

Just days before the assembly polls in Haryana, Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh yet again walked out of the Sunaria jail in Rohtak on a 20-day parole. He is now staying at the Dera ashram in Uttar Pradesh’s Baghpat and has been asked not to enter Haryana. But the frequency and timing of paroles granted to Singh have been raising eyebrows for long. The Dera chief is serving a 20-year sentence since 2017 for the rape of two disciples. In the last 7 years, he has been out of prison multiple times. (Read More)

• Among the 20 candidates from the Other Backward Classes (OBC), there are representatives from smaller backward groups such as Saini, Ahir, Gurjar, and Kumhar.
• The party has nominated seven Ahirs, who constitute approximately 5.14% of the population; six Gurjars, making up about 3.35%; and two Sainis, who represent around 2.9%.
• In the general category, there are 12 Brahmins and Punjabis, along with five Baniyas, three Rajputs, and one Jatt Sikh.

There are 8,821 voters aged over 100 years, comprising 3,283 men and 5,538 women. The total number of service voters stands at 1.09 lakh. In the 2019 assembly elections, the voter turnout was approximately 68 percent.

Haryana's Director General of Police, Shatrujeet Kapur, stated that over 30,000 police personnel and 225 paramilitary companies have been deployed for the elections. Among the total voters, there are 1.07 crore men, 95 lakh women, and 467 transgender individuals. The vote counting is scheduled for October 8.

The BJP faces a serious issue as the mother of a sitting MP, Savitri Jindal, has filed her nomination as an independent candidate and declined to withdraw it. Jindal is contesting from Hisar, where she will go up against the BJP’s Health Minister, Kamal Gupta.

• Prithla
• Radaur
• Dadri
• Nilokheri (SC)
• Barwala
• Panipat Rural
• Narnaund
• Ambala City
• Shahbad (SC)
• Kosli
• Baroda
• Kaithal
• Ellenabad
• Bhiwani
• Indri
• Panipat City
• Julana
• Mehem
• Fatehabad
• Hansi
• Pataudi (SC)
• Sadhaura (SC)
• Adampur
• Garhi Sampla-K
• Narwana (SC)
• Ferozepur Jhirk
• Karnal
• Beri
• Badli
• Pehowa
• Samalkha
• Faridabad
• Badshahpur
• Rania
• Bawal (SC)
• Hisar
• Ateli
• Uchana Kalan
• Thanesar
• Badhra
• Rohtak
• Assandh
• Ballabgarh
• Kalayat
• Pundri
• Kalanaur
• Nalwa
• Guhla (SC)
• Bahadurgarh
• Ambala Cantt
• Ganaur
• Loharu
• Gharaunda
• Kharkhoda (SC)
• Sonipat
• Faridabad NIT
• Safidon
• Punhana
• Mahendragarh
• Tohana
• Sohna
• Rewari
• Mullana (SC)
• Jagadhari
• Jhajjar (SC)
• Kosli
• Tigaon
• Dabwali
• Palwal
• Nuh
• Kalka
• Gurgaon
• Hathin
• Bawani Khera
• Nangal Chaudh
• Jind
• Badkhal
• Hodal (SC)
• Rai
• Israna (SC)
• Ladwa
• Sirsa
• Panipat City

In the 2019 assembly elections, the BJP secured 40 seats, the Congress 31, and the JJP 10. The BJP formed the government with the support of the JJP, along with backing from most independents. However, the JJP's post-poll alliance with the BJP ended after the party replaced Manohar Lal Khattar with Nayab Singh Saini as Chief Minister in March.

As of 3 pm, Haryana has recorded a voter turnout of 49.13 percent in the Assembly elections. The high-stakes electoral battle for Haryana's 90 assembly seats is set to unfold today, with voters heading to the polls in a single-phase election. A total of 1,031 candidates are contesting the elections across 90 assembly constituencies. (Check Live Updates Here)

Assembly elections in Haryana set to draw to a close in a few hours from now, bringing the focus on the exit poll predictions for the two states that went to polls recently. While voting in the single-phase Haryana Assembly elections in underway, voting for the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections concluded on October 1. Pollsters and news channels are expected to release their predictions on the winners in these two states that went to polls after voting concludes for the Haryana elections. The Election Commission of India bars the release of exit polls data during the voting process, and the data can only be made public 30 minutes after the last vote is cast. (Read More)

Since assuming power in Haryana a decade ago, the BJP has actively promoted non-Jat leadership in the state. Initially, it appointed Manohar Lal Khattar, a Punjabi Khatri, as chief minister, and earlier this year, he was succeeded by Nayab Singh Saini, who belongs to the OBC community.

Other dynasts vying to uphold their political legacies include Bhavya Bishnoi, grandson of Bhajan Lal, contesting from Adampur, and Arti Rao, competing in Ateli. Similarly, former MP Shruti Choudhry and her cousin Anirudh Chaudhary are battling it out for the Tosham seat.

Four key seats in Haryana are witnessing direct contests between prominent political figures: Brijendra Singh versus Dushyant Chautala in Uchana Kalan, Shruti Chaudhary against Anirudh Chaudhary in Tosham, Arjun Chautala versus Ranjeet Chautala in Rania, and Digvijay Chautala facing off against Aditya Chautala and Amit Sihag in Dabwali.

The Haryana elections have introduced a new dynamic with a battle among political dynasts, as Arti Rao, daughter of Union Minister Rao Inderjit Singh, makes her political debut.

In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP was unable to secure a clean sweep in Haryana for the first time since 2014. Both the Congress and the BJP won five seats each, a result largely attributed to discontent over the farm protests, the Agnipath scheme, and the wrestlers’ protests against then-lawmaker and Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who faced allegations of sexual harassment.

The BJP's campaign was led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who addressed four rallies, targeting the Congress on various issues. He accused the party of keeping crucial matters for the country, including the Ram temple issue, unresolved and tangled.

The ruling BJP is aiming for a third consecutive victory, while the Congress is looking to return to power after a decade. Other major contenders include the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Indian National Lok Dal (INLD), Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), Jannayak Janta Party (JJP), and Azad Samaj Party (ASP).

A total of 1,031 candidates are vying for seats across all 90 assembly constituencies, including 101 women. Of these, 464 are running as independent candidates.

In line with its strategy in 2014 and 2019, the BJP has once again fielded more non-Jat candidates than Jats. The Jat community, which holds significant political influence in the state, is traditionally viewed as a support base for the Congress and the JJP. The current BJP list includes 16 Jat candidates, compared to 19 in 2019 and 24 in 2014.

Jats form the critical vote bank in Haryana. Latest reports say that 27 percent of the voters in Haryana are from the Jat community. Since the 1966 formation, Haryana’s political map has been influenced by caste politics.

A notable number of Independents, including BJP and Congress rebels, are contesting this time. In total, 464 Independent candidates are in the fray in this election.

• Bhupinder Singh Hooda (Congress) from Garhi Sampla-Kiloi is contesting against Manju Hooda (BJP).
• Anil Vij (BJP) from Ambala Cantt is competing with Parimal Pari (Congress).
• Dushyant Chautala (JJP) is contesting from Uchana Kalan.
• Vinesh Phogat, former wrestler, is representing the BJP from Julana.
• Nayab Singh Saini (BJP) from Ladwa is facing Mewa Singh of Congress.

According to Haryana’s Chief Electoral Officer Pankaj Agarwal, there are 2.03 crore voters, including 8,821 centenarians in the state.

For Haryana, the predictions are expected to be intriguing, as the 2024 election was a tightly contested battle between the ruling BJP, the opposition Congress, and various regional players. (Read More)

In the 2019 Haryana Assembly elections, the results led to a hung assembly, with the BJP securing 40 seats, the Congress 31, and the JJP 10. Subsequently, the BJP and JJP formed an alliance to establish the government, with Manohar Lal Khattar as Chief Minister and Dushyant Chautala as Deputy Chief Minister. This time around, the main contenders are the BJP, Congress, and the Aam Aadmi Party, all contesting independently.

Hello and welcome to our live coverage of Haryana exit polls. As we wait for the voting to conclude, we take a look at political atmosphere in the state, campaigning so far and the hits and misses of exit polls in the rich electoral history of the country.