The 2024 election results from Haryana and Jammu & Kashmir have delivered a mix of victories, defeats, and unexpected outcomes. While the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured a significant victory in Haryana, the National Conference (NC)-Congress alliance triumphed in Jammu and Kashmir. As celebrations and reflections begin, let’s take a closer look at how some of the key leaders fared in these elections.
Haryana Elections: BJP Secures Victory, Key Wins, and Surprises
Nayab Singh Saini (BJP): Secures Chief Minister’s Position
Incumbent Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini retained his seat from Ladwa in Kurukshetra district, defeating Congress candidate Mewa Singh. Saini’s victory, along with the BJP’s overall win, marks his party’s third consecutive term in power. Thanking the people of Haryana and attributing the victory to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s policies, Saini received a congratulatory call from Modi, celebrating the BJP’s success in Haryana.
Bhupinder Singh Hooda (Congress): Veteran Leader Wins but Party Falls Short
Former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda secured a win from the Garhi-Sampla-Kiloi seat in Rohtak, a Congress stronghold. Despite Hooda’s personal victory, the Congress party was unable to win the majority in Haryana. Hooda, a significant figure in the Congress campaign, saw his efforts in shaping the party’s strategy come up short as BJP maintained its stronghold in the state.
Vinesh Phogat (Congress): Wrestling Champion Turned Politician Triumphs
Olympic wrestler and Congress candidate Vinesh Phogat won her first political contest from the Julana constituency. Phogat, who made headlines for her activism against former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Singh, celebrated her victory as a triumph of truth and justice. The gold-medal-winning wrestler defeated BJP’s Captain Yogesh Kumar and the Jannayak Janta Party’s (JJP) Amardeep Dhanda.
Anil Vij (BJP): Veteran Politician Holds Ambala Cantt
Anil Vij, a veteran BJP leader, won the Ambala Cantt seat, seeking re-election for the seventh time. Vij, who previously served as home minister under the Manohar Lal Khattar government, maintained his stronghold despite not being part of the Haryana Cabinet under Nayab Singh Saini’s leadership. His victory showcases his enduring popularity in the region.
Savitri Jindal (Independent): India’s Richest Woman Wins Hisar Seat
Savitri Jindal, India’s richest woman, contested as an Independent and won from the Hisar constituency. Jindal, the mother of BJP MP Naveen Jindal, defeated Congress candidate Ram Niwas Rara by a significant margin. Jindal had expressed her intention to be a strong voice for her constituents, leveraging her considerable influence as a billionaire and prominent figure in the region.
Dushyant Chautala (JJP): Former Deputy Chief Minister Faces Defeat
JJP chief and former deputy CM Dushyant Chautala faced a tough defeat in the Uchana Kalan seat. BJP candidate Devender Chatar Bhuj Attri led the contest, followed closely by Congress candidate Brijendra Singh. Chautala’s loss is a blow to his party, as he had previously won the seat with a large margin in 2019.
Abhay Chautala (INLD): Veteran Politician Loses in Ellenabad
In a major setback for the Indian National Lokdal (INLD), veteran leader Abhay Singh Chautala lost the Ellenabad seat to Congress’ Bharat Singh Beniwal by a margin of 15,000 votes. Abhay Singh Chautala’s loss leaves the INLD without representation in the Haryana Assembly, marking a significant decline for the once-dominant political family.
Jammu and Kashmir Elections: NC-Congress Alliance Secures Majority
Omar Abdullah (National Conference): A Dual Victory
Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah emerged victorious, winning from both Ganderbal and Budgam constituencies. Ganderbal, a stronghold of the Abdullah family, once again voted in favor of the National Conference. Abdullah’s dual victory solidifies his position within the NC, with party leader Farooq Abdullah hinting that Omar may return as chief minister of the Union Territory.
Iltija Mufti (PDP): Defeated in Her Political Debut
Iltija Mufti, daughter of former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, lost her electoral debut from the Srigufwara-Bijbehara constituency. Running on a People’s Democratic Party (PDP) ticket, Mufti was defeated by National Conference’s Bashir Veeri. The defeat marks a significant blow to the PDP, which has seen its influence wane in recent years.
Sajad Lone (People’s Conference): A Mixed Outcome
People’s Conference leader Sajad Lone contested two seats with mixed results. He secured a victory in Handwara, defeating National Conference’s Choudhary Ramzan by a narrow margin of 600 votes. However, he lost the Kupwara seat to PDP’s Mir Mohammad Fayaz. Lone’s mixed performance reflects the competitive nature of the Jammu and Kashmir elections.
Ravinder Raina (BJP): Party Chief Loses Nowshera Seat
In a surprising turn, BJP’s Jammu and Kashmir chief Ravinder Raina lost to National Conference’s Surinder Choudhary in the Nowshera constituency. Raina had been optimistic about the BJP’s chances, but his loss is a significant blow to the party, which had hoped to gain a strong foothold in the Union Territory.
Yousuf Tarigami (CPI-M): Veteran Leader Wins Kulgam Seat
Senior Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Yousuf Tarigami won the Kulgam constituency, beating a candidate backed by Jamaat-e-Islami. Tarigami, a prominent figure in South Kashmir, has represented Kulgam in the Assembly since 1996, and his victory continues his long-standing political career.
Tareeq Hameed Karra (Congress): Wins Central Shalteng Seat
Congress leader Tareeq Hameed Karra emerged victorious in the Central Shalteng constituency. Karra, who led the Congress’s campaign in Jammu and Kashmir, adds to the NC-Congress alliance’s overall success in securing a majority in the Union Territory.
In conclusion, the 2024 election results in Haryana and Jammu & Kashmir reflect a mix of continuity, change, and surprises. While BJP maintained its dominance in Haryana under Nayab Singh Saini’s leadership, the National Conference-Congress alliance secured a clear majority in Jammu and Kashmir. Key political figures like Omar Abdullah, Vinesh Phogat, and Savitri Jindal celebrated victories, while others, including Dushyant Chautala and Iltija Mufti, faced significant setbacks.
(With inputs from agencies)
