Sixty-five per cent of over 1.83 crore voters in Haryana turned out on Monday to elect 90 members to the state Assembly amidst minor skirmishes and snags in electronic voting machines (EVMs), officials said.
Assembly polls: Haryana record 65% polling
THUMBBB
23:58 October 21
Haryana record 65% polling
17:28 October 21
56% poll percentage recorded till 5 pm
16:39 October 21
Haryana Assembly Polls: 50.59% poll percentage recorded till 3:30 pm
15:19 October 21
Tohana: Voting disrupted due to EVM malfunction
According to reports, voting has been disrupted due to an EVM malfunction at booth number 77 of IG College in Tohana Assembly Constituency.
14:50 October 21
37.12 per cent voter turnout was recorded till 2 pm across the 90 Assembly constituencies of Haryana.
14:18 October 21
Chautala demanded repolling at the booth
BJP, JJP workers clash over bogus voting
Workers of the BJP and JJP reportedly clashed with each other at booth number 49 in Dumarkha Khurd of Uchana-Kalan constituency. According to reports, the two groups clashed after JJP convener Dushyant Chautala alleged that bogus voting was taking place at the booth. Paramilitary forces have reportedly brought the situation under control.
"I found that even the DSP, Chanderpal, was involved in this. I have complained to the DGP and Election Commission. I have demanded action against those involved, along with repolling at booth number 49," Chautala said.
13:44 October 21
Police say the situation has been brought under control
Scuffle between BJP, Cong supporters in Nuh
According to reports, six persons were injured after a scuffle broke out between the supporters of BJP candidate Naseem Amed, and Congress candidate Maman Khan during voting in Nuh district's Ferozepur Jhirka constituency. The two groups reportedly pelted stones at each other. Nuh SP Sangeeta Kalia said that the situation has been brought under control, and voting is underway peacefully. "We will be filing FIRs against all the trouble-makers. The message is clear - any attack on the democratic process of voting will not be tolerated," she said.
13:29 October 21
25.40 per cent voter turnout was recorded till 1 pm across the 90 Assembly constituencies of Haryana.
13:27 October 21
First-time voters urged people to exercise their franchise
First-time voters share excitement, list out issues
Sharing their excitement about exercising their franchise for the very first time, first-time voters in Haryana's Ambala urged their fellow citizens to express their choice through their votes. The youngsters listed out unemployment, corruption, and education as the main issues on which they voted.
12:58 October 21
23.53 per cent voter turnout was recorded till 12 noon across the 90 Assembly constituencies of Haryana.
12:23 October 21
Sandeep is contesting from Pehowa
Sandeep Singh casts vote
Former Indian Hockey captain and BJP candidate from Pehowa, Sandeep Singh cast his vote at a polling booth in Kurukshetra.
12:14 October 21
Hooda is two-time former CM of Haryana
Bhupinder Singh Hooda casts vote
Senior Congress leader and former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda cast his vote at a polling booth in Rohtak. He is the two-time sitting MLA from Garhi-Sampla-Kiloi.
12:13 October 21
Tanwar urged people to exercise their franchise
Ashok Tanwar casts vote
Former Haryana Congress Chief Ashok Tanwar cast his vote at a polling booth in Sirsa. He had quit the party weeks before the polls.
11:38 October 21
22.31 per cent voter turnout was recorded till 11 am across the 90 Assembly constituencies of Haryana.
11:19 October 21
Police teams were seen at the spot
Stone pelting reported from Nuh
A scuffle and stone pelting between two groups was reported from Nuh town at around 8.45 am, an official said.
Nuh district in Mewat has three Assembly constituencies -- Nuh, Ferozpur Jhirka and Punhana and about five lakh voters.
10:59 October 21
-
आज करनाल, प्रेमनगर में राजकीय कन्या स्कूल में बने मतदान केंद्र में जाकर अपने मताधिकार का प्रयोग किया।
— Manohar Lal (@mlkhattar) October 21, 2019 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="
प्रदेश के सभी मतदाताओं से निवेदन है कि लोकतंत्र के इस पर्व में अपने कर्तव्य का निर्वहन करें और सुखी व समृद्ध हरियाणा के लिए मतदान करें।#HaryanaAssemblyPolls pic.twitter.com/EoLhAOQWua
">आज करनाल, प्रेमनगर में राजकीय कन्या स्कूल में बने मतदान केंद्र में जाकर अपने मताधिकार का प्रयोग किया।
— Manohar Lal (@mlkhattar) October 21, 2019
प्रदेश के सभी मतदाताओं से निवेदन है कि लोकतंत्र के इस पर्व में अपने कर्तव्य का निर्वहन करें और सुखी व समृद्ध हरियाणा के लिए मतदान करें।#HaryanaAssemblyPolls pic.twitter.com/EoLhAOQWuaआज करनाल, प्रेमनगर में राजकीय कन्या स्कूल में बने मतदान केंद्र में जाकर अपने मताधिकार का प्रयोग किया।
— Manohar Lal (@mlkhattar) October 21, 2019
प्रदेश के सभी मतदाताओं से निवेदन है कि लोकतंत्र के इस पर्व में अपने कर्तव्य का निर्वहन करें और सुखी व समृद्ध हरियाणा के लिए मतदान करें।#HaryanaAssemblyPolls pic.twitter.com/EoLhAOQWua
CM Khattar casts vote, urges citizens to exercise franchise
Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar cast his vote at a polling booth in Karnal. In a tweet, he urged citizens to exercise their franchise and vote for a "happy and prosperous" Haryana.
10:45 October 21
Surjewala is the two-time sitting MLA
Surjewala casts vote
Senior Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala cast his vote at a polling station in Haryana's Kaithal, from where he is the two-time sitting MLA.
10:32 October 21
Khattar said he wanted to send out a message
CM Khattar rides bicycle to polling booth
Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar rode a bicycle to the polling station in Haryana's Karnal, from where he is the sitting legislator. Speaking to reporters outside the booth, Khattar said that at every important occassion, a message must be sent. "I felt it was necessary to send a message about the environment today," he said.
10:12 October 21
8.73 per cent voter turnout was recorded till 9 am across the 90 Assembly constituencies of Haryana.
10:08 October 21
Chautala is contesting from Ellenabad
Abhay Chautala casts vote
INLD leader Abhay Chautala cast his vote at a polling Booth in Haryana's Sirsa. He is contesting from the Ellenabad constituency, from where he is the two-time sitting MLA.
09:44 October 21
Dushyant Chautala casts vote
Dushyant Chautala drives tractor to polling booth
JJP Convener Dushyant Chautala drove a tractor to the polling station in Haryana's Sirsa. Chautala, who is contesting from the Uchana Kalan seat, cast his vote along with his family.
09:25 October 21
Union MoS Rattan Lal Kataria
MoS Rattan Lal Kataria casts vote
Union Minister of State for Jal Shakti Rattan Lal Kataria cast his vote at a polling booth in Haryana's Panchkula.
09:15 October 21
Phogat family casts vote
Wrestlers Babita Phogat, Geeta Phogat, and their family cast their vote at a polling booth in Balali village in Charkhi Dadri constituency. Babita Phogat is contesting on a BJP ticket from here against Congress candidate Nirpender Singh Sangwan JJP candidate Satpal Sangwan.
08:53 October 21
Selja urged people to exercise their franchise
Kumari Selja urges citizens to vote in large numbers
Speaking to reporters after casting her vote at a polling station in Hisar, Haryana Congress Chief Kumari Selja urged citizens to come out and vote in large numbers.
08:45 October 21
Yogeshwar Dutt exercises his franchise
Yogeshwar Dutt, Olympic Medallist and BJP candidate from Baroda cast his vote at a polling station in Sonipat. He is contesting against Congress candidate Krishan Hooda.
08:28 October 21
Sonali Phogat casts vote
BJP candidate Sonali Phogat, who is contesting from Adampur constituency, cast her vote. She is up against senior Congress leader Kuldeep Bishnoi.
08:07 October 21
Hisar: Kumari Selja casts vote
Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee chief Kumari Selja cast her vote at polling booth number 103 in Hisar's Yashoda Public School.
08:01 October 21
Badshahpur: Voting disrupted due to EVM malfunction
Voting has been put on hold after an EVM suffered a malfunction at booth number 286 in Gurugram's Badshahpur constituency.
07:48 October 21
Chander Mohan said it was an "emotional feeling"
Ex Dy CM Chander Mohan casts vote
Former Haryana Deputy Chief Minister Chander Mohan cast his vote with his family members at a polling station in Panchkula. He said exercising one's franchise evokes an emotional feeling as it reminds one of the sacrifices of India's freedom fighters.
07:34 October 21
-
Elections are taking place for Haryana and Maharashtra assemblies. There are also by-polls taking place in various parts of India. I urge voters in these states and seats to turnout in record numbers and enrich the festival of democracy. I hope youngsters vote in large numbers.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 21, 2019 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="
">Elections are taking place for Haryana and Maharashtra assemblies. There are also by-polls taking place in various parts of India. I urge voters in these states and seats to turnout in record numbers and enrich the festival of democracy. I hope youngsters vote in large numbers.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 21, 2019Elections are taking place for Haryana and Maharashtra assemblies. There are also by-polls taking place in various parts of India. I urge voters in these states and seats to turnout in record numbers and enrich the festival of democracy. I hope youngsters vote in large numbers.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 21, 2019
PM Modi urges citizens to come out and vote
Urging citizens to exercise their franchise, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to Twitter and wrote, "Elections are taking place for Haryana and Maharashtra assemblies. There are also by-polls taking place in various parts of India. I urge voters in these states and seats to turnout in record numbers and enrich the festival of democracy. I hope youngsters vote in large numbers."
07:27 October 21
Voting begins in Faridabad
Early morning voters in Faridabad urge citizens to exercise franchise
A few voters turned up early in the morning to exercise their franchise at a polling station in Faridabad, and urged fellow citizens to come out and vote.
07:13 October 21
Voting begins in 90 Assembly constituencies of Haryana
Voting began in the 90 assembly constituencies of Haryana. Polling will take place from 7 am to 6pm. Close to 1.8 crore voters will exercise their franchise, with as many as 1,169 candidates of various political outfits in the electoral fray.
02:28 October 21
Haryana: Land of political Kurukshetra to witness multi-cornered electoral battle today
Chandigarh: The ruling BJP is locked in a tight contest with the opposition Congress and the fledgling JJP for the 90 assembly seats that will go to polls in Haryana on Monday.
While the Congress is hoping to make a comeback following the change in guard in the state, the BJP has set a target to bag at least 75 seats in the contest in which 1,169 candidates of various political outfits are in the fray.
Currently, the BJP has 48 members in the 90-member state assembly.
The Dushyant Chautala-led Jannayak Janta Party (JJP), a breakaway faction of the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD), is also hoping for an improvement in its prospects following the Lok Sabha debacle.
The party had emerged on the scene following a feud in the Chautala clan in Decamber last year.
The polling will be held at 19,578 stations from 7 am to 6 pm, Chief Electoral Officer, Haryana, Anurag Agarwal, said.
Tight security arrangements have been made and over 75,000 security personnel have been mobilised for the polls, DGP Manoj Yadava said on Saturday.
Over 1.83 crore voters, including 85 lakh women and 252 transgenders, are eligible to vote.
As many as 27,611 voter verifiable paper audit trail (VVPAT) machines will be used for the assembly elections.
The main contest is seen among the BJP, Congress and the JJP.
However, Chief Minister Khattar claimed that the opposition was in "disarray" and the BJP had no direct contest with any party.
The BSP, AAP, INLD-SAD combine, Swaraj India and the Loktantra Suraksha Party (LSP) have thrown the hat into the ring, though none of them is fighting on all 90 seats.
In the 2014 assembly polls, the BJP for the first time came to power in Haryana on its own strength.
During the poll campaigning, which came to an end on Saturday evening, the BJP made revoking provisions of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir and other issues surrounding nationalism a major poll plank.
The Congress, JJP, INLD, AAP, BSP and other opponents targeted the Khattar government over unemployment, economy, farmers distress and alleged scams including mining and cash-for-jobs scam and "deteriorating" law and order situation in the state.
Prominent amongst those in the contest are Chief Minister Khattar (Karnal), former chief minister and Congress Legislative Party leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda (Garhi Sampla-Kiloi), Randeep Singh Surjewala (Kaithal), Kiran Choudhary (Tosham) and Kuldeep Bishnoi (Adampur), Haryana Assembly Speaker Kanwar Pal Gurjar (Jagadhri). Besides, JJP's Dushyant Chautala (Uchana Kalan), INLD's Abhay Singh Chautala (Ellenabad), state BJP chief Subhash Barala (Tohana), lone woman minister Kavita Jain (Sonipat), ministers Ram Bilas Sharma (Mahendergarh), Anil Vij (Ambala Cantt), O P Dhankar (Badli) and Capt Abhimanyu (Narnaund) are also in the fray.
The BJP has fielded three sportspersons -- Babita Phogat (Dadri), Yogeshwar Dutt (Baroda in Sonipat) and Sandeep Singh (Pehowa) -- besides TikTok artist Sonali Phogat (Adampur). In the polls, prestige of families of Haryana's famous 'Lals' Devi Lal, Bansi Lal and Bhajan Lal, who were former chief ministers will be at stake.
Late Bansi Lal's daughter-in-law Kiran Choudhary (Tosham) and son Ranbir Mahendra (Badhra) are contesting as Congress candidates. Devi Lal's great grandson and JJP leader Dushyant Chautala and granddaughter-in-law Naina Chautala (Badhra) are fighting as JJP candidates.
Devi Lal's grandson and former chief minister O P Chautala's son Abhay Singh Chautala is fighting as INLD candidate (from Ellenabad).
Late Bhajan Lal's sons Kuldeep Bishnoi (Adampur) and Chander Mohan (Panchkula) are in the fray as Congress nominees.
In the polls, all eyes will be on which party the Jat community, which constitutes nearly 25 per cent of state's population, votes this time.
The BJP has fielded 20 candidates from the community, JJP 33 and Congress 26.
The high-voltage electioneering saw the BJP fielding a galaxy of leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, his cabinet colleagues Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh and Smriti Irani.
BJP's Hema Malini, Sunny Deol and Gautam Gambhir also canvassed for the party.
Rahul Gandhi, Ghulam Nabi Azad and Ashok Gehlot were among the prominent faces who campaigned for the Congress.
Yogendra Yadav campaigned for his party Swaraj India, JJP's Dushyant Chautala criss-crossed the state for his party candidates, BSP chief Mayawati, INLD's Abhay Chautala and his party's ally SAD's Sukhbir Singh Badal, former Kurukshetra MP Raj Kumar Saini of LSP sought votes for their respective party candidates.
While Prime Minister Modi addressed seven rallies in the state, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi addressed two election meetings.
Ahead of the polls, the BJP denied tickets to 12 of its sitting legislators, which included two ministers - Vipul Goel (Faridabad) and Rao Narbir Singh (Badshahpur).
Of the 12 legislators, Randhir Kapriwas turned rebel and entered the fray from Rewari.
The Congress retained its sitting legislators while the INLD saw its prominent faces switching over to the BJP, the Congress and the JJP. In the 2014 assembly polls, the BJP had won 47 seats. It won the Jind bypolls earlier this year, taking its total strength in the state assembly to 48.
The INLD had 19 MLAs while the Congress has 17 legislators.
The BSP and the SAD had bagged one seat each in the last polls while five were Independents.
Read: Four big parties to shape Maharashtra's political space
23:58 October 21
Haryana record 65% polling
Sixty-five per cent of over 1.83 crore voters in Haryana turned out on Monday to elect 90 members to the state Assembly amidst minor skirmishes and snags in electronic voting machines (EVMs), officials said.
17:28 October 21
56% poll percentage recorded till 5 pm
16:39 October 21
Haryana Assembly Polls: 50.59% poll percentage recorded till 3:30 pm
15:19 October 21
Tohana: Voting disrupted due to EVM malfunction
According to reports, voting has been disrupted due to an EVM malfunction at booth number 77 of IG College in Tohana Assembly Constituency.
14:50 October 21
37.12 per cent voter turnout was recorded till 2 pm across the 90 Assembly constituencies of Haryana.
14:18 October 21
Chautala demanded repolling at the booth
BJP, JJP workers clash over bogus voting
Workers of the BJP and JJP reportedly clashed with each other at booth number 49 in Dumarkha Khurd of Uchana-Kalan constituency. According to reports, the two groups clashed after JJP convener Dushyant Chautala alleged that bogus voting was taking place at the booth. Paramilitary forces have reportedly brought the situation under control.
"I found that even the DSP, Chanderpal, was involved in this. I have complained to the DGP and Election Commission. I have demanded action against those involved, along with repolling at booth number 49," Chautala said.
13:44 October 21
Police say the situation has been brought under control
Scuffle between BJP, Cong supporters in Nuh
According to reports, six persons were injured after a scuffle broke out between the supporters of BJP candidate Naseem Amed, and Congress candidate Maman Khan during voting in Nuh district's Ferozepur Jhirka constituency. The two groups reportedly pelted stones at each other. Nuh SP Sangeeta Kalia said that the situation has been brought under control, and voting is underway peacefully. "We will be filing FIRs against all the trouble-makers. The message is clear - any attack on the democratic process of voting will not be tolerated," she said.
13:29 October 21
25.40 per cent voter turnout was recorded till 1 pm across the 90 Assembly constituencies of Haryana.
13:27 October 21
First-time voters urged people to exercise their franchise
First-time voters share excitement, list out issues
Sharing their excitement about exercising their franchise for the very first time, first-time voters in Haryana's Ambala urged their fellow citizens to express their choice through their votes. The youngsters listed out unemployment, corruption, and education as the main issues on which they voted.
12:58 October 21
23.53 per cent voter turnout was recorded till 12 noon across the 90 Assembly constituencies of Haryana.
12:23 October 21
Sandeep is contesting from Pehowa
Sandeep Singh casts vote
Former Indian Hockey captain and BJP candidate from Pehowa, Sandeep Singh cast his vote at a polling booth in Kurukshetra.
12:14 October 21
Hooda is two-time former CM of Haryana
Bhupinder Singh Hooda casts vote
Senior Congress leader and former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda cast his vote at a polling booth in Rohtak. He is the two-time sitting MLA from Garhi-Sampla-Kiloi.
12:13 October 21
Tanwar urged people to exercise their franchise
Ashok Tanwar casts vote
Former Haryana Congress Chief Ashok Tanwar cast his vote at a polling booth in Sirsa. He had quit the party weeks before the polls.
11:38 October 21
22.31 per cent voter turnout was recorded till 11 am across the 90 Assembly constituencies of Haryana.
11:19 October 21
Police teams were seen at the spot
Stone pelting reported from Nuh
A scuffle and stone pelting between two groups was reported from Nuh town at around 8.45 am, an official said.
Nuh district in Mewat has three Assembly constituencies -- Nuh, Ferozpur Jhirka and Punhana and about five lakh voters.
10:59 October 21
-
आज करनाल, प्रेमनगर में राजकीय कन्या स्कूल में बने मतदान केंद्र में जाकर अपने मताधिकार का प्रयोग किया।
— Manohar Lal (@mlkhattar) October 21, 2019 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="
प्रदेश के सभी मतदाताओं से निवेदन है कि लोकतंत्र के इस पर्व में अपने कर्तव्य का निर्वहन करें और सुखी व समृद्ध हरियाणा के लिए मतदान करें।#HaryanaAssemblyPolls pic.twitter.com/EoLhAOQWua
">आज करनाल, प्रेमनगर में राजकीय कन्या स्कूल में बने मतदान केंद्र में जाकर अपने मताधिकार का प्रयोग किया।
— Manohar Lal (@mlkhattar) October 21, 2019
प्रदेश के सभी मतदाताओं से निवेदन है कि लोकतंत्र के इस पर्व में अपने कर्तव्य का निर्वहन करें और सुखी व समृद्ध हरियाणा के लिए मतदान करें।#HaryanaAssemblyPolls pic.twitter.com/EoLhAOQWuaआज करनाल, प्रेमनगर में राजकीय कन्या स्कूल में बने मतदान केंद्र में जाकर अपने मताधिकार का प्रयोग किया।
— Manohar Lal (@mlkhattar) October 21, 2019
प्रदेश के सभी मतदाताओं से निवेदन है कि लोकतंत्र के इस पर्व में अपने कर्तव्य का निर्वहन करें और सुखी व समृद्ध हरियाणा के लिए मतदान करें।#HaryanaAssemblyPolls pic.twitter.com/EoLhAOQWua
CM Khattar casts vote, urges citizens to exercise franchise
Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar cast his vote at a polling booth in Karnal. In a tweet, he urged citizens to exercise their franchise and vote for a "happy and prosperous" Haryana.
10:45 October 21
Surjewala is the two-time sitting MLA
Surjewala casts vote
Senior Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala cast his vote at a polling station in Haryana's Kaithal, from where he is the two-time sitting MLA.
10:32 October 21
Khattar said he wanted to send out a message
CM Khattar rides bicycle to polling booth
Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar rode a bicycle to the polling station in Haryana's Karnal, from where he is the sitting legislator. Speaking to reporters outside the booth, Khattar said that at every important occassion, a message must be sent. "I felt it was necessary to send a message about the environment today," he said.
10:12 October 21
8.73 per cent voter turnout was recorded till 9 am across the 90 Assembly constituencies of Haryana.
10:08 October 21
Chautala is contesting from Ellenabad
Abhay Chautala casts vote
INLD leader Abhay Chautala cast his vote at a polling Booth in Haryana's Sirsa. He is contesting from the Ellenabad constituency, from where he is the two-time sitting MLA.
09:44 October 21
Dushyant Chautala casts vote
Dushyant Chautala drives tractor to polling booth
JJP Convener Dushyant Chautala drove a tractor to the polling station in Haryana's Sirsa. Chautala, who is contesting from the Uchana Kalan seat, cast his vote along with his family.
09:25 October 21
Union MoS Rattan Lal Kataria
MoS Rattan Lal Kataria casts vote
Union Minister of State for Jal Shakti Rattan Lal Kataria cast his vote at a polling booth in Haryana's Panchkula.
09:15 October 21
Phogat family casts vote
Wrestlers Babita Phogat, Geeta Phogat, and their family cast their vote at a polling booth in Balali village in Charkhi Dadri constituency. Babita Phogat is contesting on a BJP ticket from here against Congress candidate Nirpender Singh Sangwan JJP candidate Satpal Sangwan.
08:53 October 21
Selja urged people to exercise their franchise
Kumari Selja urges citizens to vote in large numbers
Speaking to reporters after casting her vote at a polling station in Hisar, Haryana Congress Chief Kumari Selja urged citizens to come out and vote in large numbers.
08:45 October 21
Yogeshwar Dutt exercises his franchise
Yogeshwar Dutt, Olympic Medallist and BJP candidate from Baroda cast his vote at a polling station in Sonipat. He is contesting against Congress candidate Krishan Hooda.
08:28 October 21
Sonali Phogat casts vote
BJP candidate Sonali Phogat, who is contesting from Adampur constituency, cast her vote. She is up against senior Congress leader Kuldeep Bishnoi.
08:07 October 21
Hisar: Kumari Selja casts vote
Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee chief Kumari Selja cast her vote at polling booth number 103 in Hisar's Yashoda Public School.
08:01 October 21
Badshahpur: Voting disrupted due to EVM malfunction
Voting has been put on hold after an EVM suffered a malfunction at booth number 286 in Gurugram's Badshahpur constituency.
07:48 October 21
Chander Mohan said it was an "emotional feeling"
Ex Dy CM Chander Mohan casts vote
Former Haryana Deputy Chief Minister Chander Mohan cast his vote with his family members at a polling station in Panchkula. He said exercising one's franchise evokes an emotional feeling as it reminds one of the sacrifices of India's freedom fighters.
07:34 October 21
-
Elections are taking place for Haryana and Maharashtra assemblies. There are also by-polls taking place in various parts of India. I urge voters in these states and seats to turnout in record numbers and enrich the festival of democracy. I hope youngsters vote in large numbers.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 21, 2019 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="
">Elections are taking place for Haryana and Maharashtra assemblies. There are also by-polls taking place in various parts of India. I urge voters in these states and seats to turnout in record numbers and enrich the festival of democracy. I hope youngsters vote in large numbers.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 21, 2019Elections are taking place for Haryana and Maharashtra assemblies. There are also by-polls taking place in various parts of India. I urge voters in these states and seats to turnout in record numbers and enrich the festival of democracy. I hope youngsters vote in large numbers.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 21, 2019
PM Modi urges citizens to come out and vote
Urging citizens to exercise their franchise, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to Twitter and wrote, "Elections are taking place for Haryana and Maharashtra assemblies. There are also by-polls taking place in various parts of India. I urge voters in these states and seats to turnout in record numbers and enrich the festival of democracy. I hope youngsters vote in large numbers."
07:27 October 21
Voting begins in Faridabad
Early morning voters in Faridabad urge citizens to exercise franchise
A few voters turned up early in the morning to exercise their franchise at a polling station in Faridabad, and urged fellow citizens to come out and vote.
07:13 October 21
Voting begins in 90 Assembly constituencies of Haryana
Voting began in the 90 assembly constituencies of Haryana. Polling will take place from 7 am to 6pm. Close to 1.8 crore voters will exercise their franchise, with as many as 1,169 candidates of various political outfits in the electoral fray.
02:28 October 21
Haryana: Land of political Kurukshetra to witness multi-cornered electoral battle today
Chandigarh: The ruling BJP is locked in a tight contest with the opposition Congress and the fledgling JJP for the 90 assembly seats that will go to polls in Haryana on Monday.
While the Congress is hoping to make a comeback following the change in guard in the state, the BJP has set a target to bag at least 75 seats in the contest in which 1,169 candidates of various political outfits are in the fray.
Currently, the BJP has 48 members in the 90-member state assembly.
The Dushyant Chautala-led Jannayak Janta Party (JJP), a breakaway faction of the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD), is also hoping for an improvement in its prospects following the Lok Sabha debacle.
The party had emerged on the scene following a feud in the Chautala clan in Decamber last year.
The polling will be held at 19,578 stations from 7 am to 6 pm, Chief Electoral Officer, Haryana, Anurag Agarwal, said.
Tight security arrangements have been made and over 75,000 security personnel have been mobilised for the polls, DGP Manoj Yadava said on Saturday.
Over 1.83 crore voters, including 85 lakh women and 252 transgenders, are eligible to vote.
As many as 27,611 voter verifiable paper audit trail (VVPAT) machines will be used for the assembly elections.
The main contest is seen among the BJP, Congress and the JJP.
However, Chief Minister Khattar claimed that the opposition was in "disarray" and the BJP had no direct contest with any party.
The BSP, AAP, INLD-SAD combine, Swaraj India and the Loktantra Suraksha Party (LSP) have thrown the hat into the ring, though none of them is fighting on all 90 seats.
In the 2014 assembly polls, the BJP for the first time came to power in Haryana on its own strength.
During the poll campaigning, which came to an end on Saturday evening, the BJP made revoking provisions of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir and other issues surrounding nationalism a major poll plank.
The Congress, JJP, INLD, AAP, BSP and other opponents targeted the Khattar government over unemployment, economy, farmers distress and alleged scams including mining and cash-for-jobs scam and "deteriorating" law and order situation in the state.
Prominent amongst those in the contest are Chief Minister Khattar (Karnal), former chief minister and Congress Legislative Party leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda (Garhi Sampla-Kiloi), Randeep Singh Surjewala (Kaithal), Kiran Choudhary (Tosham) and Kuldeep Bishnoi (Adampur), Haryana Assembly Speaker Kanwar Pal Gurjar (Jagadhri). Besides, JJP's Dushyant Chautala (Uchana Kalan), INLD's Abhay Singh Chautala (Ellenabad), state BJP chief Subhash Barala (Tohana), lone woman minister Kavita Jain (Sonipat), ministers Ram Bilas Sharma (Mahendergarh), Anil Vij (Ambala Cantt), O P Dhankar (Badli) and Capt Abhimanyu (Narnaund) are also in the fray.
The BJP has fielded three sportspersons -- Babita Phogat (Dadri), Yogeshwar Dutt (Baroda in Sonipat) and Sandeep Singh (Pehowa) -- besides TikTok artist Sonali Phogat (Adampur). In the polls, prestige of families of Haryana's famous 'Lals' Devi Lal, Bansi Lal and Bhajan Lal, who were former chief ministers will be at stake.
Late Bansi Lal's daughter-in-law Kiran Choudhary (Tosham) and son Ranbir Mahendra (Badhra) are contesting as Congress candidates. Devi Lal's great grandson and JJP leader Dushyant Chautala and granddaughter-in-law Naina Chautala (Badhra) are fighting as JJP candidates.
Devi Lal's grandson and former chief minister O P Chautala's son Abhay Singh Chautala is fighting as INLD candidate (from Ellenabad).
Late Bhajan Lal's sons Kuldeep Bishnoi (Adampur) and Chander Mohan (Panchkula) are in the fray as Congress nominees.
In the polls, all eyes will be on which party the Jat community, which constitutes nearly 25 per cent of state's population, votes this time.
The BJP has fielded 20 candidates from the community, JJP 33 and Congress 26.
The high-voltage electioneering saw the BJP fielding a galaxy of leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, his cabinet colleagues Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh and Smriti Irani.
BJP's Hema Malini, Sunny Deol and Gautam Gambhir also canvassed for the party.
Rahul Gandhi, Ghulam Nabi Azad and Ashok Gehlot were among the prominent faces who campaigned for the Congress.
Yogendra Yadav campaigned for his party Swaraj India, JJP's Dushyant Chautala criss-crossed the state for his party candidates, BSP chief Mayawati, INLD's Abhay Chautala and his party's ally SAD's Sukhbir Singh Badal, former Kurukshetra MP Raj Kumar Saini of LSP sought votes for their respective party candidates.
While Prime Minister Modi addressed seven rallies in the state, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi addressed two election meetings.
Ahead of the polls, the BJP denied tickets to 12 of its sitting legislators, which included two ministers - Vipul Goel (Faridabad) and Rao Narbir Singh (Badshahpur).
Of the 12 legislators, Randhir Kapriwas turned rebel and entered the fray from Rewari.
The Congress retained its sitting legislators while the INLD saw its prominent faces switching over to the BJP, the Congress and the JJP. In the 2014 assembly polls, the BJP had won 47 seats. It won the Jind bypolls earlier this year, taking its total strength in the state assembly to 48.
The INLD had 19 MLAs while the Congress has 17 legislators.
The BSP and the SAD had bagged one seat each in the last polls while five were Independents.
Read: Four big parties to shape Maharashtra's political space
Intro:Body:
Conclusion:
har 2
Conclusion:
Last Updated : Oct 21, 2019, 11:59 PM IST
