Dushyant Chautala's JJP, AAP stare at collapse in Haryana, predicts exit poll

The exit poll prediction, if it comes true, would be a shocker for the JJP, which had a dream debut five years ago when it won 10 seats in the 90-member Haryana Assembly.

In Short

• JJP may win 0-2 seats, AAP might win none, predicts exit poll
• JJP faced backlash for continuing alliance with BJP during farm protests
• AAP's strategy to go solo in Haryana polls may go against party

The Jannayak Janta Party (JJP) and Aam Aadmi Party may be staring at a poll washout in Haryana, according to CVoter exit poll. While the JJP is projected to win 0-2 seats, the AAP may not even open its account in Haryana, the exit poll suggests.

The exit poll prediction, if it comes true, would be a shocker for the JJP, which had a dream debut five years ago when it won 10 seats in the 90-member Haryana Assembly. For the AAP, the failed seat-sharing pact with its INDIA-bloc ally Congress may come to haunt the party if the exit poll prediction turns out to be true on October 8, when the results are out.

JJP: A TACTICAL FAILURE?

Due to a hung Assembly in 2019, the BJP and JJP joined hands to form the government. Manohar Lal Khattar became the Chief Minister and JJP chief Dushyant Chautala became his deputy with a large battery of portfolios.

The alliance continued for a good four-and-a-half years, but six months ago, when the BJP decided to dissolve the government and replaced Khattar with Nayab Singh Saini as Chief Minister, the JJP was shown the door.

Problems multiplied for the JJP as seven of its 10 MLAs shifted loyalty, leaving it in a tough spot.

Going by the exit poll, the road ahead for the JJP doesn't look smooth. The party, which rode to power on the support of the Jat community, got the ire of farmer groups for staying in alliance with the BJP during the agitation against the three farm laws.

Dushyant Chautala even admitted that it was a mistake to be with the BJP during the farmers' agitation and things would have been better if the alliance had ended earlier.

JJP spokesperson Deep Kamal also admitted that they knew people were angry with them and farmers' issue also hit them.

FAILED ALLIANCE TALKS TO BITE AAP?

The AAP, which enjoys power in Delhi and Punjab, has almost been a non-starter in Haryana. The party, which was once bargaining hard to stitch a pre-poll alliance with the Congress, failed to impress much after it announced to go solo.

The AAP could not garner much support despite a strong campaign by party chief Arvind Kejriwal and top party brass.

If the results on October 8 match the exit poll prediction, it might be a lesson for the AAP to not go solo in a state where it does not have a strong organisational base.