The BJP took an early lead in counting trends as counting of votes in the 90-member Haryana Assembly began at 8am on Thursday. At 9am, the BJP was ahead in 46 seats, while the Congress was leading in 14 seats. The biggest loser, as per trends, appears to be the Indian National Lok Dal, which is leading in a mere two seats. In the 2014 Assembly polls, the BJP came to power, winning 47 seats, while the INLD was in second place with 19 seats.
As per early trends, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar of the BJP is ahead from Karnal. Khattar had won from Karnal as a first-time MLA in 2014. A notable candidate fielded against Khattar was Tej Bahadur Yadav, the former BSF jawan, who was fielded by the Jannayak Janata Party.
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Khattar's main political rival, Bhupinder Singh Hooda is leading from Garhi-Sampla-Kiloi, his stronghold.
Wrestlers Babita Phogat and Yogeshwar Dutt, who were both nominated by the BJP, are leading from their respective constituencies. Phogat is fighting her first election from Dadri, while Dutt is contesting from Baroda constituency against two-time Congress MLA Sri Krishan Hooda, who had won in 2009 and 2014.
Abhay Singh Chautala of the INLD was leading from Ellenabad, the Chautala family pocket borough.
