New Delhi:

Arvind Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party, which was hoping to find a toehold in Haryana — the next logical choice after ruling Delhi and Punjab — could fail to open its account in the state, exit polls have indicated. Exit polls, though, can often get it wrong. 

AAP had contested on 89 of Haryana’s 90 seats. But its campaigning was hamstrung due to the absence of its key leaders including Arvind Kejriwal for the most part. Mr Kejriwal and his close aide Manish Sisodia, arrested in connection with the Delhi liquor case, got bail just ahead of the election. 

AAP, though, had not been able to open account in Haryana in 2029 as well. But the party was hoping for a better performance after registering its presence in six states and winning the “National Party” tag. 

In 2019, the AAP lost all the 46 seats it contested and received a vote share of less than NOTA. But this time, it was hoping for a better outcome in the assembly election, on the basis of its improved performance in the Lok Sabha election on several seats. 

But early on, AAP’s alliance talks with the Congress fell through with trust deficit on both sides. 

The leaders of the state Congress thought a tie-up would dent the party’s chances in a state that has mostly seen a straight fight between the Congress and the BJP. The state leaders had thought an alliance would split the anti-BJP votes, 

AAP’s demand for a bigger share of the seats than the Congress was willing to concede, did not help.

Haryana, where elections were held today, have registered a 64-plus per cent turnout. Exit polls have predicted a Congress victory, giving the BJP no more than 32 seats. An aggregate of four exit polls indicate that the Congress will win 55 of Haryana’s 90 seats – comfortably ahead of the halfway mark of 45. The BJP could end up with 24 seats in Haryana, the math indicates.

The counting of votes will take place on October 8.