Lok Sabha elections 2024: Can BJP clean sweep Haryana again? SWOT analysis

The Election Commission has announced the voting dates for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. The general election will take place in seven phases, starting on April 19 and concluding on June 1. Haryana will go to polls in a single phase on May 25. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) recently parted ways with its coalition partner Jannayak Janta Party (JJP) in the state and it replaced Manohar Lal Khattar with Nayab Singh Saini as the new Chief Minister.

In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP secured a victory across all 10 parliamentary constituencies in the state with a vote share of 58.02%. The other parties -- Congress, JJP and INLD -- drew a blank.

The 10 Lok Sabha seats in Haryana are Ambala, Kurukshetra, Sirsa, Hisar, Karnal, Sonipat, Rohtak, Bhiwani–Mahendragarh, Gurgaon and Faridabad.

With the state assembly elections scheduled to take place just months after the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, the BJP wants to go all out in campaigning, while the Congress and other parties are looking forward to giving tough competition to the ruling party.

Here is a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis of the major political parties in Haryana:

Strengths

Despite separating from JJP, the BJP is in a strong position in Haryana, having been in power for over nine years in the state. The Manohar Lal Khattar government in the state was seen by many as a relatively corruption-free dispensation.

Weakness

In recent years, Haryana has witnessed some major farmer protests. The BJP is reportedly not in the good books of a section of farmers for taking a tough stand against the protests.

Opportunity

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s popularity and the party's appeal of the Hindutva ideology improves its chances in the state. If it manages another clean sweep in Haryana in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections,  there are good chances it will perform well in Assembly polls.

Threat

Besides breaking the alliance with JJP, the BJP recently suffered another setback when party MP Brijendra Singh submitted his resignation to join the Congress, amid speculation that his father Birender Singh may also switch sides. This is expected to hurt the BJP in Hisar and other areas.

Strengths

The Congress party includes several big names, including two-time chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Kumari Selja and Randeep Singh Surjewala, who individually influence a wide range of voters, in Haryana.

Weaknesses

According to reports, the Congress in Haryana is a divided house having separate factions led by Hooda and the so-called “SRK group”, which includes Surjewala, Selja and Kiran Chaudhary. The rival parties in Haryana continue to rake up alleged scams from the time when the Congress was in power in the state.

Opportunity

The 2024 general elections are a major opportunity for the Congress party to make a comeback in Haryana. Also, the recent tie-up with the Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which is contesting only one seat in the state, comes as a boost to the Congress. AAP is currently in power in Delhi and Punjab.

Threat

While BJP's Hisar MP Brijendra Singh switched to the Congress, the grand old party in recent times has seen a lot of its leaders shifting to the BJP fold. The Congress has a lot to worry about keeping its flock together.

Strengths

The JJP holds a lot of influence particularly in the state’s rural areas, staking claim to the Devi Lal legacy. In recent years, the party has enhanced its standing in Haryana, being part of the ruling coalition until the BJP severed ties recently.

Weakness

The JJP might have a tough time going solo in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. The party only managed to get a 14.8% vote share in the 2019 polls.

Opportunity

JJP leader Dushyant Chautala is a prominent face of the Jat community and enjoys popularity among the youth in the state. Hence, the Lok Sabha polls are a great opportunity for him to make a strong base for the party to contest the upcoming Assembly polls.

Threats

Dushyant Chautala's estranged uncle and INLD leader Abhay Singh Chautala will keep gunning for him. Besides the BJP and Congress, the JJP also faces competition from Indian National Lok Dal.