As Haryana gears up for its 2024 Assembly elections, the faceoff between Congress and the ruling party BJP remains fierce. Will BJP secure a hat trick or will congress make a comeback after 10 years?
The 15th Haryana legislative assembly elections are scheduled for this Saturday, and over 2.03 crore people in the state are eligible to participate. It’s hard to analyse what’s really on the mind of the voters, and it won’t become evident until October 8, when the results of the election are announced.
However, here are some issues that could affect public opinion.
Farmer’s Laws
Haryana’s economy is still based primarily on agriculture, and the state’s farmers have had a significant influence on the political landscape of the region. Within the farming community, there is still mistrust due to the ‘controversial’ farm regulations that were enacted by the BJP-led Union government in 2020 and later overturned following widespread demonstrations. Even if the laws are no longer in effect, the aftermath of the 2020–21 farmer demonstrations, in which Haryana’s farmers were instrumental, continues to influence the opinions of rural voters.
One of the biggest concerns is still the Minimum Support Price (MSP) issue. In their party manifestos, the BJP and the Congress both promised to purchase 24 crops at MSP prices, while the Congress offered a legal guarantee for MSP. But some farmer organizations, such as the Samyukta Kisan Morcha, are still skeptical and want a formal guarantee for MSP based on the formula developed by the Swaminathan Committee.
Caste Politics: The Jat vs. Non-Jat Divide
Caste has long had an impact on Haryana’s political scene, especially given the prominence of the Jat community. Jats, who form a significant portion of the state’s rural electorate, have historically been kingmakers in Haryana elections. But non-Jat communities, including Dalits, OBCs, and other marginalized groups, have been challenging the long-standing Jat dominance in politics in recent years by staking out their political space.
By trying to take advantage of the division between Jat and non-Jat voters, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has made an attempt to consolidate the non-Jat vote, especially among the OBCs. But many in the community feel that the BJP lacks a strong Jat leader, particularly after the 2016 Jat reservation protests that resulted in widespread unrest and violence. Meanwhile, the Congress is attempting to regain its foothold among Jat voters, particularly by forming alliances with Dalits, creating a formidable bloc that could shift the electoral balance.
The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP)-Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) alliance, which presents itself as a voice for both Dalit and rural interests, further complicates matters. This alliance may further splinter the caste-based vote, resulting in an extremely unpredictable outcome, along with the Jannayak Janta Party (JJP) and Aazad Samaj Party (ASP) coalition.
Agniveer Scheme
In Haryana, the Agniveer plan has gained significant traction, especially with young people. Agniveer: What is it? Only 25% of soldiers hired under this approach are awarded permanent positions following their four-year service.
Young people in Haryana are extremely dissatisfied by this change from long-term service to short-term contracts because they see it as a loss of steady employment possibilities and job security. Although Haryana has a long and proud history of military service, many young candidates’ trust has been damaged by the Agnipath scheme’s launch in 2022.
Unemployment is already a significant worry in Haryana, and the younger generation feels even more disconnected due to what they see as uncertain job opportunities. The BJP has pledged to offer employment to young people through the Agniveer scheme, while accusing Rahul Gandhi and the Congress of politicising the Agniveer scheme. Meanwhile, the Congress continues to criticise the scheme.
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