8 october 2024 : The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) struggled to make an impact in the Haryana Assembly election, with none of its candidates leading in any of the 90 constituencies. Contrary to exit polls, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is leading in nearly 50 seats.
As per Election Commission data at 11:30 am, the BJP was ahead in 48 seats, while the Congress led in 36. The Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) each led in one seat, with four independent candidates also in the lead.
Exit polls had largely predicted an easy majority for the Congress, but the BJP delivered a stronger challenge than expected.
AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal led the party’s campaign after being released on bail in the Delhi excise policy case, criticizing the BJP for his five-month incarceration. AAP, which has won the Delhi Assembly elections in 2013, 2015, and 2020, and the Delhi municipal polls, has been aiming to expand into states like Goa, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Gujarat but hasn’t found much success.
In Haryana, Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini was leading in Ladwa, Kurukshetra district, while Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda led in Garhi Sampla-Kiloi, Rohtak district. BJP’s Anil Vij was ahead in Ambala Cantt, and INLD’s Abhay Singh Chautala led in Ellenabad. Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala’s son, Aditya Surjewala, was leading in Kaithal.
These early trends could still change as final results are announced.