All eyes on Bhupinder Hooda: Former Haryana CM's comeback seems tough with BJP running towards victory

As the counting of votes for the Haryana Assembly elections commenced at 8 AM on Tuesday, all eyes were on the results following the single-phase voting held on October 5, which saw a voter turnout of 61 percent.

This election has captured significant attention, particularly the contest for the Garhi Sampla-Kiloi constituency in Rohtak district, long considered a stronghold for Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda.

Hooda, a seasoned politician who has previously served as Haryana's Chief Minister and represented the region as a Member of Parliament multiple times, is facing a neck-to-neck challenge in this election.


The ruling BJP has crossed the majority mark in the Haryana assembly and was leading on 49 seats, while the Congress was ahead on 35, according to the latest trends available on the Election Commission website. Among prominent candidates, Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, Congress leaders Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Vinesh Phogat, Udai Bhan, Independent candidate Savitri Jindal, were ahead on their respective seats.

Key contestants in Garhi Sampla-Kiloi

In the constituency of Garhi Sampla-Kiloi, Hooda is up against several candidates, including Manju Hooda from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Pravin Guskhani representing the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Sushila Devi from the Jannayak Janta Party (JJP), and Krishan from the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD). The outcome here could be indicative of broader trends across the state, where the Jat community plays a crucial role in approximately 40 of the 90 constituencies.

Voter sentiment and exit-poll predictions

Exit polls suggested a potential comeback for Congress, with forecasts indicating that Hooda is the preferred candidate for Chief Minister among voters. Some exit poll predictions placed him at 30.8 percent support, ahead of the current Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, who garnered 22.1 percent.

The public sentiment seems to reflect a desire for change, and many analysts believe the Congress party could reclaim power if these exit-poll projections hold true.