Congress’s Overconfidence, Our Poll Management Ensured BJP’s Haryana Win: Satish Poonia | Exclusive

Soon after Nayab Saini’s oath-taking ceremony as the Chief Minister of Haryana on Thursday, Satish Poonia, Bharatiya Janata Party’s state in-charge, took a selfie along with Dharmendra Pradhan, Biplab Deb and Surendra Singh Nagar, captioning it – “We 4".

It did not take long for the selfie to go viral as praise came from BJP’s General Secretary (Organisation) BL Santosh for scripting the unexpected win.

On Thursday evening, Poonia, one of the four pillars of BJP’s Haryana success story, sat down with News18 for an interview, speaking on a wide-range of issues.

Blaming Congress’ loss on its “overconfidence" and “internal strife", Poonia credited the BJP’s efficient election management down to the booth level for the win. He also cited examples of the PM Narendra Modi-led government’s various welfare measures for farmers in the last year that virtually left very little to no anger among them.

Poonia, a Jat, got the job at a time when the community was strongly averse to the BJP. He told News18 that the Congress may have tried to “mislead" the Jats, but getting over 35% of the community’s vote goes on to the show the BJP undid the damage. On Thursday, two Jat MLAs were sworn in as ministers in Saini’s council.

What next? With 38 years of organisation experience, will Poonia head towards his home state — Rajasthan — that has been witnessing, what many would say, intermittent power squabbles?

Edited excerpts:

When you started the BJP’s planning in Haryana, all predictions were for a Congress win. What did you do right?

The BJP began preparing for the Haryana Assembly elections from the start, focusing on strong election management at the grassroots level, which impacted both rural and urban areas. The welfare schemes of the Modi government and the Saini administration also contributed to the BJP’s victory. The party’s efficient election management extended down to the booth level, ensuring a widespread presence across Haryana. Meanwhile, the Congress was stuck in overconfidence and internal strife, which led to their significant defeat.

⁠How did the BJP break into the Jat territory at a time when the community was angry?

Under the leadership of PM Modi, the central government and BJP have always prioritised the welfare of farmers across the country, including Haryana. Programmes such as the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi and the provision of MSP for 24 crops, initiated by Chief Minister Saini, demonstrate this commitment. The BJP received support from all sections of society, including over 35% of the Jat community’s vote. With backing from all communities, the BJP is set to work towards nonstop development for Haryana.

You are believed to have played a role in cooling off a section of Jats…

The Jat community has always been supportive of the BJP’s policies. The Congress tried to mislead people, but the Jat community, along with other groups, exposed this and stood firmly with the BJP, leading to its victory. Jats have contributed to various fields — from agriculture to sports and national defence. Coming from a small village in Rajasthan, I have experienced life’s struggles, and with 38 years of organisational experience, I’ve been entrusted with key responsibilities. My understanding of farmers’ issues has always guided me, and in Haryana, like Rajasthan, I received immense support from farmers and youth, which contributed to the BJP’s success.

Unlike MP, Chhattisgarh or Rajasthan, PM Modi did not hold many election rallies in Haryana. Any particular reason?

PM Modi, one of the world’s most popular leaders, is the architect of modern India. His government is working towards making India self-reliant across all sectors. Modi shares a special connection with Haryana, where he held rallies in all major parts of the state, which had a positive impact on the election. Senior leaders such as Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP chief JP Nadda also campaigned, all working towards one goal — a BJP victory, achieved through the hard work of party workers.

⁠Was the BJP top leadership surprised with the tally on the counting day?

The BJP’s win in Haryana was not surprising as the party was fully confident of its success. The party strategically worked on election management, focusing on better planning and execution. The BJP got a historic victory, forming the government for the third time in Haryana. This government will work towards the upliftment of all sections of society and will fulfil its vision of a developed Haryana.

In your home state, some murmurs are growing against the Chief Minister. What’s the way forward?

The BJP government in Rajasthan, led by Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, is working towards making the state more developed. His appointment has sent a positive message to all party workers. In the BJP, decisions are made by the central leadership and the parliamentary board, which are respected by all levels of the party.