New Delhi, Sept 12 : Hours after the Election Commission announced the dates for Haryana Assembly polls; Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda on Friday expressed confidence and said that the Congress will form the government in the state for the third time.

"We are ready for elections; the Congress will form its Government for the third time in Haryana. The party is fully prepared, and the atmosphere of the state is also our favor as we are getting a lot of support from the people. There has been immense development in past 10 years," he said.

Taking potshots at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Hooda said the ruling government at the Centre has failed to make an impression on the people who voted for them in the Lok Sabha polls.

"The BJP has corrupt people; there is no corruption in Haryana. In the Lok Sabha polls, they had made an environment due to which the people got influenced and voted for them. They have not worked to curb inflation. In these three months, the prices of rail, oil, diesel, sugar, gas, etc have gone up and the government has failed," he said.

BJP leader Jagdish Mukhi, however, said that the people of Haryana will definitely vote for his time this time. He added that the BJP will form government in Haryana with absolute majority.

Meanwhile, Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) leader Abhay Chautala criticized the Harayana Government for making fake claims to the people.

"The Haryana Government has put in efforts to attract people for votes by making fake claims. We are grateful to the Election Commission for deciding the date of assembly polls. We have decided our election manifesto and also prepared our list. We are ready for the elections. We will form government with majority votes," said Chautala.

"The condition of Congress is very poor and the BJP is doing horse-trading to increase its number of candidates. Modi wave was never there otherwise they wouldn't have lost in Uttarakhand and Bihar, now the results in Haryana will show the reality," he added.

Chief Election Commissioner V S Sampath earlier in the day announced the schedule of upcoming assembly elections in Maharashtra and Haryana.

The assembly elections in Maharashtra and Haryana will be held on October 15 while the counting of votes will take place on October 19. (ANI)