Fully geared for simultaneous LS, Assembly polls: Khattar

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 17

The BJP is fully geared for simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in Haryana, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said here on Tuesday.

“It is for the Election Commission to take a call on the holding of simultaneous parliamentary and Assembly elections in the state early next year. However, the BJP as a party is geared up for the polls—whether held separately or at the same time,” Khattar told The Tribune.

While the elections to the Lok Sabha are due early next year, the Haryana Assembly elections are scheduled to be held in October next year.

Sourced said the BJP might go in for simultaneous polls to the Lok Sabha and Assembly in Haryana to avoid the anti-incumbancy factor.

In the last Lok Sabha and Assembly polls, the BJP rode on the “Modi wave” to secure seven out of the 10 Lok Sabha seats and formed government on its own in Haryana by winning 47 of the 90 seats.

Sources added that the party was already in election mode, with Khattar undertaking an intensive tour of the state and going on an inauguration spree in a bid to woo the voters.

Khattar conceded that the BJP government was “battle ready” for the elections “as and when held”.

Basking under the substantial hike in the MSP recently, Khattar is scheduled to address four statewide rallies across from July 21 to August 5.

The BJP is banking on the development plank in the state in the past 45 months and factionalism in the Opposition Congress to seek a second term in the office.