Haryana Polls: CM Saini, Vinesh Phogat Among Key Contenders as Voting Begins

Chandigarh: Polling in Haryana is all set to take place at October 5 for the 90-membered legislative assembly with results awaited at October 8. The state has a total of 90 Assembly seats, and 1,031 candidates, including 101 women, are contesting the elections. A total of 20,629 polling booths have been set up across the state.

After intense campaign concluded, the Bhartiya Janata Party aiming for a third consecutive term, meanwhile the Congress would be hoping for a comeback after a decade.

Voting Details

Polling will begin at 7 AM on Saturday, October 5, across 20,629 polling booths in the state. The election results will be announced on October 8, with the vote counting taking place alongside that of Jammu and Kashmir.

There are a total of 90 seats in the state for which polling will take place in a much high anticipated contest between the BJP , congress, JJP and other political parties, with 1,031 candidates contesting the elections, including 101 women.

Haryana Assembly Elections 2024: Key Candidate, Constituencies 

• Nayab Singh Saini ( BJP ) – Ladwa

CM Saini is Contesting from the Ladwa seat.  Saini became Chief Minister after Manohar Lal Khattar’s resignation. Previously, Saini served as Haryana BJP president and was a Member of Parliament representing Kurukshetra from 2019 to 2024.  Saini is known for his strong advocacy of cow protection and is a long-standing figure in state politics with his strong support in the OBC community. 

• Bhupender Singh Hooda (INC)- Garhi Sampla

 A two time former Chief Minister of Haryana from 2005 to 2014, Hooda is contesting from Garhi Sampla.  He remains a key figure in the state and is the current Leader of the Opposition. Hooda is known for his focus on Jat based agricultural politics and rural development.

• Dushyant Chautala (JJP) – Uchana

  former Deputy CM and JJP Chief Dushyant Chautala is in the fray from Uchana Kalan, a seat which holds his family legacy. As he holds a political legacy of his grandfather former CM Om Prakash Chautala and great grand father former Deputy PM Tau Devi Lal, Dushyant Chautala faces a tough challenge in the constituency and the state after he was in the government for more than 4 years. 

• Vinesh Phogat (INC) – Julana 

Wrestler Vinesh Phogat recently joined the Congress party after she narrowly missed a medal in the 2024 Paris Olympics in wrestling  after her weight exceeded 100 grams. Congress party fielded her from Julana constituency. She was very vocal against former WFI President Brijbhushan Saran Singh after alleged sexual harassment allegations. 

• Anil Vij ( BJP ) - Ambala Cant

 He is sitting Home Minister of Haryana and contesting from Ambala Cantt

• Captain Abhimanyu ( BJP ) – Narnaund

 Captain Abhimanyu, who is the wealthiest candidate in the elections, with assets exceeding ₹491 crore, is in fray for the BJP Contesting from Narnaund seat. 

• Om Prakash Dhankar ( BJP ) – Badli

 He is former Haryana BJP state president and contesting from Badli consituency for BJP . 

• Anirudh Chaudhry (INC) – Bhiwani

Former treasurer of the BCCI, Chaudhry is the Congress candidate from Bhiwani. Cricketer Virendra Sehwag was seen many times campaigning for Chaudhary in the constituency.  

• Abhay Singh Chautala (INLD)– Ellenabad

Grandson of Tau Devi Lal and former Leader of the Opposition, Abhay Chautala is contesting from Ellenabad.

• Savitri Jindal (Independent) – Hisar 

Industrialist Naveen Jindal’s mother is contesting the polls from Hisar as an independent candidate.

• Altaf Ahmad (INC) – Nuh

The Congress ’s deputy Leader of Opposition is running from Nuh, a Muslim-majority constituency.

• Brijendra Singh (INC) – Uchana

 The Congress has fielded Brijendra Singh in Uchana. A former MP from Hisar and a 1998-batch IAS officer, Brijendra resigned after 21 years of service. He is the son of former Union Minister of Steel, Birender Singh.

• Bhavya Bishnoi ( BJP ) – Adampur 

The young face of the BJP and sitting MLA, Bhavya Bishnoi, is contesting from Adampur in Hisar. He is the grandson of former Haryana CM Bhajan Lal.

• Anurag Dhanda (AAP) – Kalayat 

 Anurag Dhanda is Contesting from Kalayat seat. 

Other notable independent candidates include Ranjit Chautala from Rania and  Chitra Sarwara from Ambala Cantt.

In the 2019 Assembly elections, the BJP won 40 seats, while Congress secured 31. The BJP formed the government with the support of JJP and most independent MLAs. However, the BJP ’s alliance with JJP ended after the saffron party replaced Manohar Lal Khattar with Nayab Singh Saini as Chief Minister in March.