Haryana Assembly Elections Begin Amid High Stakes

Haryana's Assembly elections are set for October 5, 2024, with over 2 crore eligible voters amidst a heated political landscape. Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge, are urging voters to support their bid for change after a decade of BJP rule, highlighting socio-economic issues like unemployment and inflation. The BJP, aiming for a third consecutive term, faces challenges including widespread dissatisfaction over policies like the Agnipath Scheme and its handling of farmer protests. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) claims it will play a crucial role, while the Jannayak Janta Party (JJP) has formed a pre-poll alliance with the Azad Samaj Party. Notably, a significant number of independents are contesting, many being former party members, which could disrupt the traditional BJP-Congress dynamic. As the election approaches, both major parties are strategizing to counteract each other's narratives, particularly around controversies involving Congress figures like Robert Vadra.