Lok Sabha election phase 6: Poll pitch rolled out, Haryana votes today

CHANDIGARH: After the high-pitched campaign in the blistering heat and fervent efforts by prominent figures across political parties to engage with the voters, Haryana voters are all set to click on the EVM button to elect their representatives for the 10 seats in the state in the phase VI of Lok Sabha polls on Saturday, May 25.
There are overall 223 candidates in the fray, but only 16 women nominees.The main contest this time appears to be between Congress and BJP, with tough fights predicted on almost all seats.

Other prominent regional parties contesting the polls are Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) and Jannayak Janta Party (JJP).

Prominent players in the poll-field are former Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar of BJP in Karnal, Kumari Selja of Congress from Sirsa (reserved), Deepender Singh Hooda of Congress from Rohtak, Raj Babbar of Congress and Rao Inderjit Singh of BJP in Gurgaon, Ranjit Singh Chautala of BJP in Hisar and industrialist-turned politician Naveen Jindal in Kurukshetra.
Elections a litmus test for JJP, INLD
While it would be a door-die fight for BJP in the state after its 100% showing in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the Congress party is eyeing a comeback.
Saturday’s polls are also a semifinal for both Congress and BJP in Haryana, as the result would have a direct impact in the state that is all set to witness assembly elections in October this year.
The results of the Lok Sabha polls would also have a huge impact on the assembly elections in which BJP would try to retain power for the third time consecutively and Congress would try to return to power after 10 years. The parliamentary polls are also a litmus test for the regional parties including the Abhay Chautala-led INLD and the Dushyant Chautala-led JJP. Both these regional outfits are trying their hardest to get more votes than the other to tell the people who is the real political heir of former deputy prime minister and 'Tau of Indian politics' Devi Lal. Percentage of votes received by these two regional outfits would also determine their status as recognized political parties.
Apart from 10 Lok Sabha seats, voting would also be held for Karnal assembly bypoll, where the main contest is between CM Nayab Singh Saini of BJP and Tarlochan Singh of Congress. The byelection was necessitated on account of the resignation of ex-CM Khattar from the assembly. The bypoll is crucial for BJP as it does not have requisite numbers of its own in the state assembly, in case of a floor test.
In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, BJP had secured around 58.2% of the total votes polled and managed to win all 10 seats. In the 2014 elections, the saffron party had won seven seats, Congress the sole seat of Rohtak whiled INLD bagged the Hisar and Sirsa seats.