Interview Times 
BHUBANESWAR: Polling for the 90-member legislative assembly in Haryana commenced on Saturday, with a total electorate of 2.03 crore set to decide the fate of 1,031 candidates. Prime Minister Narendra Modi called on citizens to participate in record numbers, emphasizing the importance of the electoral process.
“Voting is taking place today for the Haryana Assembly elections. I appeal to all voters to be a part of this holy festival of democracy and set a new record of voting. On this occasion, my special best wishes to all the young friends of the state who are going to vote for the first time,” Modi expressed on X.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who has been actively campaigning to secure the BJP’s third consecutive victory in the state, encouraged voters to prioritize their civic duty. “Your one vote will work to keep Haryana free from ‘kharchi, parchi’ (the alleged system of favouritism and corruption for recruitment under Congress governments). I urge all my sisters and brothers to vote to maintain the pace of development. Only a government with a track record of development and good governance, and not one making false promises, can bring welfare to Haryana,” he stated.
To facilitate the voting process, a total of 20,632 booths have been established across the state. Polling will continue until 6 P.M., with tight security arrangements in place. Officials reported that there were no delays in starting the poll process, and rural electors were seen arriving at polling stations well before voting commenced at 7 A.M.
The electoral contest is expected to be a bipolar showdown between the ruling BJP, which aims for a third successive term with its “double-engine” government despite facing internal dissent, and the principal opposition Congress, which seeks to unseat the ruling party amid claims of growing discontent among key groups, including farmers, government employees, unemployed youth, and wrestlers.
Both the BJP and Congress are contesting for 89 seats each, but political analysts note that the presence of candidates from the Aam Aadmi Party, the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) in alliance with the Bahujan Samaj Party, and the breakaway Jannayak Janta Party, in alliance with the Azad Samaj Party, along with some BJP rebels running as Independents, has made the contest more complex.
Chief Electoral Officer Pankaj Agarwal emphasized the importance of every vote, urging the public to actively participate in this democratic festival. He noted that 2.03 crore voters, including 1.07 crore men, 95,77,926 women, and 467 third-gender voters, are eligible to cast their ballots.
