Haryana local body elections 2024: BJP's massive victory, big setback for Congress
Congress has suffered a crushing defeat by BJP in the elections in Haryana for the second time. The results of the local body elections held on March 2 were declared on Wednesday, March 12. In the election results held on 10 seats, the BJP has given a big shock to Congress by making a clean sweep. BJP candidates have won 9 out of 10 mayor seats, while Congress has faced a crushing defeat in Rohtak, considered to be the stronghold of former Chief Minister Bhupendra Singh Hooda. Out of 10 seats, independent candidate and BJP rebel leader Dr. Indrajit Yadav won from Manesar.
After BJP's landslide victory in Haryana civic elections, the state's Chief Minister Naib Singh Saini also celebrated the victory. Talking to media persons, he said, 'People have put their stamp on the 'triple engine' government, I thank the people from the bottom of my heart. Our local body government and this 'triple engine' government will play an important role in fulfilling Prime Minister Narendra Modi's dream of a 'developed India'. At the same time, Haryana Education Minister Mahipal Dhanda promised more development for the state thanks to the 'full mandate'.
It is worth noting that the Congress, which lost the assembly elections last year despite gaining a big lead, has contested local elections only once before under its election symbol. However, this time the party fielded several candidates for the post of Mayor of Gurugram, in which there was a direct contest with the BJP for the first time. In response, the BJP fielded top state leaders, Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini and Delhi's new Chief Minister Rekha Gupta for campaigning. At the same time, the Congress had given the responsibility of campaigning to former Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot and Bhupendra Singh Hooda.
Incumbent BJP candidate Raj Rani defeated Congress' Seema Pahuja by more than one lakh votes. The contest for the Rohtak mayor seat was on paper a five-way contest between the BJP, Congress, Aam Aadmi Party, Indian National Lok Dal and an independent. But BJP's Ram Avtar emerged as the undisputed winner. He got over one lakh votes, while Congress' Surajmal Kiloi came second by over 45,000 votes. This result is being seen as a big setback for Congress, as this is Hooda's stronghold.
