As Haryana votes today, the pivotal question remains whether the Congress has effectively capitalized on the anti-incumbency sentiment against the two-time BJP government.

The Congress appears optimistic and seems to be ahead in the battle for public perception. However, as reported by Liz Mathew, the BJP is not entirely out of the race.

Mathew, who traveled through the Kurukshetra-Karnal region, notes that the BJP has shifted its strategy, recognizing that livelihood issues are of utmost importance to voters. Instead of solely relying on the image and popularity of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the party has emphasized its state government’s track record over the past decade. This marks the first time in a decade that the Prime Minister was not a central figure in the BJP’s election campaign.

On the campaign trail, the BJP focused on promises of job creation, emphasizing a transparent process: “bina parchi, bina kharchi (jobs without recommendations or bribes).” They also highlighted the Saini administration’s decision to raise the annual income limit for the creamy layer among Other Backward Classes (OBCs) from ₹6 lakh to ₹8 lakh, along with various incentives announced for government employees, backward communities, and panchayat chiefs.

Given the recent challenges posed by unemployment—evident in the Lok Sabha elections where the BJP lost five out of ten parliamentary seats to the Congress—the BJP’s efforts to showcase job creation aim to counter the Congress’s narrative surrounding joblessness.

The Congress is confident of a win, with senior leaders Bhupinder Singh Hooda and Kumari Selja both in the running for the Chief Minister position. In 2019, Haryana experienced a fractured mandate, with the BJP winning 40 seats—six short of the 46-seat majority needed in the 90-member Assembly. The Congress secured 31 seats, the JJP obtained 10, and the INLD claimed one. The JJP later allied with the BJP to form a coalition government. Results from the Haryana polls will be announced on October 8, alongside those from Jammu and Kashmir.

Maharashtra Update:

In Maharashtra, the focus shifts as Prime Minister Narendra Modi prepares to release ₹20,000 crore as the 18th installment of the PM-KISAN scheme during an event in Washim on Saturday. The gathering will also feature Maharashtra’s Governor, C.P. Radhakrishnan, Union Ministers, and the Chief Minister.

Farmers in Maharashtra are set to receive an additional ₹2,000 crore under the state’s Namo Shetkari Mahasanman Nidhi Yojana.

Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Maharashtra marks his second trip in a fortnight, with significant stops planned in the politically crucial Vidarbha region. This includes a tour of the Jagdamba Mata Temple in Washim and the inauguration of a ‘Banjara Virasat Museum,’ targeting the sizable Banjara vote bank in the region.

As the Congress regains momentum in Maharashtra, it aims to contest the most seats in the upcoming Assembly elections, following a strong performance in the recent Lok Sabha elections where it won 13 of the 17 seats it contested. The party is now positioning itself to reclaim the chief ministerial post.