BJP’s failures that may pave way for Congress win in Haryana after 10 years

The Congress party is poised to stage a comeback in Haryana after a decade, potentially halting the BJP’s quest for a third consecutive term, according to the CVoter exit poll. Congress is projected to win 50-58 out of the 90 Assembly seats, while the BJP is expected to secure only 20–28 seats.
The BJP’s declining popularity in Haryana can be attributed to several critical missteps during its two terms in power. Here are five key reasons why the party is facing a backlash:
The BJP government in Haryana faced severe anti-incumbency due to various unresolved issues. In an attempt to mitigate the rising discontent, the party removed then-Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar in March 2024. However, this move seemed to backfire on the party as it failed to address the underlying grievances.
Unemployment was one of the BJP’s most glaring failures during its tenure. Haryana’s unemployment rate was 9% in 2021-22, more than double the national average of 4.1%. Despite promising 2 lakh jobs in its manifesto, the BJP government failed to fill nearly 1.84 lakh vacancies.
While the BJP claimed that recruitment was transparent and merit-based, Congress exposed discrepancies, notably the recovery of over Rs 3 crore from the Haryana Public Service Commission office. The scandal, which led to the cancellation of 47 competitive exams, further tarnished the BJP’s credibility.
The BJP, traditionally an urban-centric party, found its core voter base abandoning it. Urban voters, once instrumental in the party’s success, opted not to cast their ballots in large numbers this time. Of the two crore eligible voters, only one crore turned up to vote, signaling a significant drop in support.
Manohar Lal Khattar’s push for e-governance reforms, aimed at curbing corruption and streamlining services, ended up alienating a large section of the population. Various online portals, including Parivar Pahchan Patra (PPP) and Meri Fasal Mera Byora, were rolled out, but residents struggled with access issues and poor internet connectivity. Frustration mounted as people could not avail themselves of government schemes, leading to widespread dissatisfaction.
Several initiatives introduced by the BJP government remained largely on paper. For instance, in August 2024, the government announced a plan to pay MSP on 24 crops, as well as a 10% horizontal reservation and interest-free loans for Agniveers. However, these promises were made just before the elections and were never fully realized, further eroding public trust.
In addition, the introduction of the mandatory Parivar Pahchan Patra in 2020 led to more discontent. Of the 72 lakh families registered, only 68 lakh were verified. Issues like discrepancies in old-age pensions and long queues at PPP centers due to poor connectivity only aggravated the problem.
As the exit polls suggest a Congress resurgence, the BJP’s series of missteps has seemingly paved the way for a possible change in leadership in Haryana.