Haryana Elections 2024: Congress Faces Scrutiny Over False Promises in Rajasthan, Himachal

Haryana Elections 2024: As the Haryana Assembly elections approach, with voting scheduled for October 5 and counting on October 8, political parties are in full swing to secure voter support. Congress, aiming to regain power after a decade, has made several promises in a bid to win back the electorate. However, their past track record of unmet commitments, both in Haryana and other states like Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh, may challenge their efforts.

Congress’s Road to the Majority

Out of the 90 assembly seats in Haryana, Congress is contesting 89, leaving the Bhiwani seat to its ally CPI(M). With the majority mark set at 46 seats, Congress hopes to reclaim control in the state. However, lingering doubts over unfulfilled promises in neighboring states may hinder their chances.

Unkept Promises in Rajasthan

One of Congress’s most glaring failures has been in Rajasthan, where they could not deliver on their promise of waiving farmers’ loans. Rahul Gandhi had famously promised, during a 2018 rally, that farmers’ loans would be waived within ten days if Congress came to power. Despite winning the elections, the party’s inability to fulfill this pledge contributed to the BJP’s victory in 2023. This unkept promise serves as a cautionary tale for Haryana voters.

Himachal Pradesh’s Unfulfilled Pledges

Himachal Pradesh faces a similar situation. During the November 2022 Assembly elections, Congress secured power with ten guarantees, one of which was employing one lakh youth. Priyanka Gandhi had announced that this promise would be addressed in the first cabinet meeting, but no substantial action has been taken since Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu’s cabinet met in January 2023.

Another significant pledge was a monthly pension of Rs 1,500 to women, which held immense importance for Himachal’s female population. Despite initiating the Indira Gandhi Pyari Behna Sukh Samman Nidhi Yojana, the Congress government imposed conditions that limited the scheme’s accessibility, leaving many women excluded.

Challenges for Government Employees

In Himachal, government employees, especially State Electricity Pensioners, have also had to protest for their pending salaries and financial benefits. The employees warned that if their payments were not settled by December 31, they would escalate their grievances to the Election Commission.

BJP’s Movements and Alliances in Haryana

Meanwhile, the BJP has been active in shaping the political landscape in Haryana. With key figures like Kanwaljit Ajrana refusing to contest from Pehowa, alliances like INLD-Halopa are expected to impact several key seats. Additionally, the JJP-ASP released their candidate list for Karnal, and Congress veteran Bhupinder Singh Hooda has come under scrutiny regarding his net worth and legal cases.

In Kaithal, BJP’s Lilaram Gurjar faces Congress’s Aditya Surjewala, while in Radaur, BJP’s Shyam Singh Rana will contest against Congress’s Bishan Lal Saini. The Kalka seat features BJP’s Ambala Mayor Captain Abhimanyu challenging MLA Pradeep Chaudhary, who recently switched from INLD to Congress.

AAP’s Role and Accusations

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has also released its fifth list of nine candidates for the Haryana elections, adding to the competitive nature of the race. Congress, meanwhile, has accused the BJP of dissolving the Haryana Assembly prematurely to conceal their lack of majority. Former Deputy CM Dushyant Chautala of JJP claims that internal conflicts within Congress could affect their performance, with growing public support shifting toward JJP.

Haryana Elections 2024: The Stakes Are High

With alliances, promises, and political dynamics at play, the upcoming elections in Haryana are crucial for all parties. For Congress, regaining the trust of voters despite their history of unmet promises in other states will be key to their strategy. The BJP, INLD, JJP, and AAP will also look to capitalize on Congress’s vulnerabilities, making the elections a highly anticipated and unpredictable contest.

As the Haryana Elections 2024 voting day nears, all eyes will be on Haryana’s voters as they decide the fate of their next government.