BJP Dominates Early Trends in Haryana Mayoral Elections
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Synopsis
Early indications from the vote counting in Haryana's civic polls show the ruling BJP leading in nine out of ten mayoral positions, signaling a potential downfall for the Congress party.
Key Takeaways
- BJP leads in nine out of ten mayoral races.
- Independent candidate Inderjit Yadav leads in Manesar.
- Congress faces significant setbacks.
- 46% voter turnout in the municipal elections.
- Unopposed elections for 26 ward members.
Chandigarh, March 12 (NationPress) The principal Opposition party, Congress, in Haryana is poised for a significant setback in the civic elections, as early results from the ongoing vote counting reveal that the ruling BJP is in the lead for nine out of ten mayoral positions.
In one of the municipal corporations, an Independent candidate, who is a former BJP member, is also showing strong results.
This election marks the first electoral challenge for both Congress and BJP after the latter secured a historic third consecutive term in the Haryana Assembly elections in October 2024.
Historically, the Congress has refrained from using its symbol in municipal elections, except during the mayoral races in three corporations back in December 2020.
In the industrial hub of Manesar, Independent candidate Inderjit Yadav is ahead with a margin of 1,638 votes in the initial count, having secured 4,809 votes against BJP's Sunder Lal who garnered 3,171 votes. Another Independent candidate, Vijay Singh, received 3,133 votes, while the Congress candidate Neeraj Yadav managed a mere 273 votes.
The elections for seven municipal corporations -- Gurugram, Manesar, Faridabad, Hisar, Rohtak, Karnal, and Yamunanagar -- took place on March 2, while the voting for the Panipat municipal corporation was conducted separately on March 9. Additionally, by-elections for the mayoral posts in Ambala and Sonipat, along with elections for the presidents and ward members in 21 municipal committees, were held on March 2.
Vote counting is also ongoing for municipal councils in Ambala Sadar, Pataudi-Jatauli Mandi, Thanesar, Sirsa, and Sohna (by-election), among others. Furthermore, by-elections for the post of president in Assandh and Ismailabad municipal councils were conducted.
Approximately 46 percent of the over 5.1 million eligible voters participated in the civic body elections on March 2.
A total of 26 ward members have already been elected unopposed, including Kuldeep Singh (Faridabad), Vikas Yadav (Gurugram), Sankalp Bhandari and Sanjeev Kumar Mehta (Karnal), and Bhavna (Yamunanagar), who all achieved unopposed victories in their respective wards.
Similarly, three ward members were elected unopposed in Ambala Sadar and Thanesar, while 18 others won without opposition in various municipal committees throughout the state.
Prior to the elections, Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini expressed confidence that the BJP would emerge victorious, stating that governance would advance at three times the speed following the establishment of a triple-engine government, comprising the centre, state, and local bodies.
