Congress has been plundering nation, says Haryana CM

Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Saturday accused the Congress of following the policy of plundering the state by deceiving the electorate.

"Congress does the politics of 'jhooth and loot' and the people of Haryana have understood this. They have made up their minds to bring back the BJP in Haryana for a third time," Saini told reporters even as Haryana voted.

Saini, among the earlycomers, came to the booth with his wife Suman and cast his vote in his native village, Mirza, in Ambala district's Naraingarh.

Voting for all 90 Assembly seats in Haryana, which began at 7 am, will conclude at 6 pm, while the counting of votes will be taken up on October 8.

Saini is contesting the polls from Ladwa in the Kurukshetra district.

Before he cast his vote, Saini prayed at Guru Ravidas temple and a gurdwara in his village.

"The mood of the people of Haryana is clear, the BJP is going to form a government for the third time with a big mandate," Saini told reporters.

He claimed that the BJP's "double-engine" government did excellent work in 10 years and the farmers – who have been agitating on and off over minimum wage – have been happy with his government's policies.