Haryana assembly elections: PM Modi urges voters to "set new record of voting"

Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Pic/PTI

As the Haryana assembly elections began, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday appealed to the voters to exercise their franchise and "set a new record of voting".

In a post on X, PM Modi encouraged first-time voters to take part in the electoral process.

"Voting is taking place today for the Haryana Assembly elections. I appeal to all voters to be a part of this holy festival of democracy and set a new record for voting. On this occasion, my special best wishes to all the young friends of the state who are going to vote for the first time," Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote in a post on X.

Meanwhile, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini urged the people of the state to press the button of Lotus.

"I, your Nayab Singh, would like to appeal to you to press the lotus button on October 5 and make BJP victorious with a huge margin. Your one valuable vote will help keep Haryana's development going non-stop and give it further momentum," Saini wrote in a post on X.

Voting for all the 90 assembly constituencies in Haryana began at 7 am today.

A total of 1,031 candidates are contesting and 20,632 polling booths have been set up for voting. The results for the Haryana Assembly elections will be declared along with those of Jammu and Kashmir on October 8.

One of the prominent faces in the elections is wrestler Vinesh Phogat. She joined the Congress party on September 6, along with Olympian wrestler Bajrang Punia, following her disqualification from the women's 50 kg final at the Paris Olympics.

The JJP-ASP alliance will contest all 90 Assembly constituencies in Haryana, with the JJP fielding candidates in 70 seats and the ASP in 20. In the 2019 Assembly elections, the BJP won 40 of the 90 seats, forming a coalition government with the JJP, which won 10 seats. The Congress secured 31 seats. However, JJP later broke out of the coalition.

(With inputs from ANI)