Farmers, soldiers, wrestlers… Congress created a great narrative, then how did BJP win Haryana?

New Delhi : Counting of votes continues for Haryana Assembly elections. The results seem to be coming in a way that even BJP itself would not have expected. The faces that had been dull since the day of the exit polls suddenly glowed. When the counting started in the morning, the initial trends showed that Congress was moving towards a one-sided victory, but its happiness was dashed within an hour or two. The tables turned. Now if the trends change into results then BJP is going to score a hat-trick of victory with a clear majority. Congress created a lot of narrative through farmer-jawan-wrestler but how did BJP win, what did it win, it is going to achieve its biggest victory till date in the state, let us understand. Congress created the narrative in Haryana assembly elections. . Campaigned aggressively on the issue of farmer-jawan-wrestler. Preparations were made to corner BJP on the pretext of farmers movement. On the issue of Agniveer, he/she also tried to create a narrative of ‘real nationalism’ by talking about the soldiers. By fielding Olympian wrestler Vinesh Phogat, who was the face of the wrestlers’ movement against BJP leader Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, an attempt was made to attract Jat votes along with the wrestler fraternity. Made populist promises in the name of 7 guarantees.

BJP gets direct benefit from Jat vs non-Jat polarization

Congress created a strong narrative against BJP during the elections. The confidence of the leaders was at its peak. All the exit polls were predicting a landslide victory for the Congress but the party’s over-confidence and over-aggression went against it. In a way, the party tried to link the wrestlers’ movement with Jat identity. Vinesh Phogat, who lost the Olympic medal due to weight gain before the important match, was welcomed by many Congress leaders including Deepender Hooda by taking out a procession. The limit was reached when those claiming to lead the Jat community gave ‘Khap Panchayat Gold Medal’ to Phogat. Congress not only included Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia, the main faces of the wrestler movement, in the party but also fielded Phogat from Julana assembly seat. Amidst all this, Congress, albeit unknowingly, fueled the Jat versus non-Jat polarization.

Before the elections, BJP distanced itself from Dushyant Chautala’s JJP because it realized that it would be deprived of Jat votes in the elections. The blame for this ‘part time partnership’ fell on JJP. BJP directly benefited from Jat vs non-Jat polarization. Looking at the decisive trends, it seems that along with non-Jat OBCs, Dalit votes are also overwhelmingly in favor of BJP. There are 20 percent Dalits in Haryana and this time BJP may have succeeded in wooing them.

There were many challenges for BJP. Being in power for 10 years, it was a challenge for him/her to deal with anti-incumbency tendencies. Just before the elections, BJP promised that it will give MSP on 24 crops. Announced to give interest-free loans to fire warriors. But Congress’s excessive noise fueled Jat-non-Jat polarization and the party had to suffer the loss.

BJP’s ‘resolutions’ overshadow Congress’s ‘guarantees’

Congress made populist promises in the elections through 7 guarantees. Many populist promises like free electricity up to 300 units, free treatment up to Rs 25 lakh, 100 yard plot for the poor, Rs 2000 per month for women etc. BJP realized that if it was not cut then the game would be lost. It has also provided Rs 2,100 for women under Lado Lakshmi Yojana, free treatment up to Rs 10 lakh for every family, nursery for Olympic Games in every district, free scooter for college going girls in rural areas, government subsidy to every Agniveer of Haryana. Opened a box of 20 ‘resolutions’ including job guarantee. Ultimately, the public expressed confidence in 20 ‘resolutions’ of BJP compared to 7 ‘guarantees’ of Congress.

The move to change the Chief Minister has taken place

BJP changed the Chief Minister in the state even before the Lok Sabha elections. Manohar Lal Khattar was replaced and the post of Chief Minister was handed over to his/her trusted Naib Singh Saini. Saini was presented as an OBC face. This gave OBCs another reason to mobilize in favor of the BJP in the Jat dominated state. BJP’s move to change the Chief Minister before the elections to curtail the 10-year anti-incumbency period seems to have worked.

BJP took advantage of the infighting in Congress

BJP left no stone unturned to capitalize on the infighting in the Congress before the elections and the respective claims of the leaders for the post of Chief Minister. In the elections, 70 to 80 percent candidates were fielded from Bhupendra Singh Hooda camp. It was natural for his/her arch rival Selja Kumari to be uneasy. However, in the rally in Assandh, Rahul Gandhi definitely tried to do damage control by bringing Selja and Hooda on one stage. Selja is a veteran Dalit face in Haryana. BJP openly offered him/her to join the party. Although Selja publicly rejected it, the message had probably been sent among the Dalits. Message of alleged neglect of Dalit leader in Congress. BJP got direct benefit from this.