Haryana Elections: Bhupinder Hooda Expresses Confidence in Congress Victory Despite Lagging Trends
In a dramatic turn of events, Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Congress’s chief ministerial candidate in the Haryana elections, maintained a confident stance regarding his party’s victory, even as early counting trends indicated a lag behind the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Addressing the media on Tuesday, Hooda dismissed concerns about the initial results, asserting that the Congress is poised to make a significant comeback in the state.
“As per the information we have on vote-counting trends, I am confident that Congress will form the government in Haryana,” Hooda said. He credited the party’s leadership, including Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, and Priyanka Gandhi, for their efforts in rallying support. He added, “Congress is going to return after 10 years. We will get the majority. The credit for this win goes to the party and the people of Haryana.”
The Congress veteran dismissed any notion that the party was falling behind, emphasizing that close contests were expected in certain constituencies but would not deter their overall performance. While Hooda refrained from specifying the exact number of seats Congress would win, his optimism suggested that the party’s internal projections were more favorable than the publicly visible trends at that point in time.
BJP’s Reaction to Early Trends
On the other hand, the Bharatiya Janata Party’s national spokesperson, Sudhanshu Trivedi, expressed confidence that the early trends were indicative of a “historic” victory for the BJP in Haryana. He rejected Hooda’s optimism, stating that there was no truth to the notion that the elections saw a division along Jat versus non-Jat lines, an issue often discussed in the context of Haryana’s politically charged caste dynamics.
Trivedi confidently stated, “The trends we are seeing suggest a clear victory for the BJP. This will be a historic win for our party in Haryana.”
Anil Vij’s Sharp Remarks
Adding fuel to the competitive atmosphere, senior BJP leader Anil Vij, who had openly thrown his hat into the ring for the Chief Minister’s post, took a sharp dig at Congress and Hooda. Vij remarked, “The result is coming as we had expected. Since morning, Congress had opened a fake shop selling fake ‘jalebis.’ Those inside Congress who wanted Hooda to lose were already celebrating.”
The metaphorical remark by Vij highlighted internal rifts within Congress and pointed toward what he claimed was a false sense of celebration within the opposition ranks before the final outcome. His comment underscored the intense rivalry between the BJP and Congress in this election.
Close Contests Expected
With both parties maintaining high levels of confidence, the Haryana elections have turned into a nail-biting contest. While counting trends initially favored the BJP, Hooda’s assured demeanor and dismissal of these early results indicate that Congress may still have a chance to sway the final outcome. The people of Haryana now eagerly await the official results, which will ultimately determine which party will form the next state government.
The battle for Haryana has always been one of high stakes, with caste politics playing a crucial role in influencing voter sentiment. As both Congress and the BJP wait for the final tally, the focus remains on the close contests that could swing the state’s political fate.
Conclusion
With Bhupinder Hooda’s confident assertion of Congress’s victory and the BJP’s equally confident claim of a historic win, the Haryana elections promise to be an intriguing finish. The people of Haryana, and indeed the entire nation, are watching closely as the final results unfold, determining the next phase of governance in the state.
