Abstract
This study examines the role of caste leadership in shaping electoral behaviour in contemporary Haryana politics, with particular reference to the 2024 Haryana Assembly Elections. The study seeks to understand the influence of caste identity, caste-based leadership, political mobilisation, candidate preferences, and socio-political issues on voters’ electoral decisions. A descriptive and analytical research design was adopted using a mixed-method approach. Primary data were collected from 400 voters through a structured questionnaire, while secondary data were obtained from election reports, government publications, political documents, books, journals, and other reliable sources. The collected data were analysed using frequency, percentage, and cross-tabulation, supplemented by qualitative interpretation. The findings indicate that caste leadership continues to influence a substantial section of voters, although its influence operates alongside factors such as candidate leadership, development, governance, employment, welfare schemes, and local issues. The study concludes that electoral behaviour in Haryana is increasingly multidimensional, where traditional caste considerations coexist with emerging issue-based and leadership-oriented voting preferences.