Senior workers shun rally, may spell trouble for new outfit

Deepender Deswal

Tribune News Service

Hisar, December 9

The show of strength by the INLD’s breakaway faction led by Hisar MP Dushyant Chautala in Jind on Sunday was dominated by youngsters. The rally, which marked the formation of Jannayak Janta Party, allegedly lacked experienced — middle and upper-age group — supporters. The negligible presence of women in the rally was also a worrying signal for them.

The youth segment of the INLD was largely associated with Dushyant and his younger brother Digvijay Chautala who had been the president of the Indian National Student Organisation (INSO) for the last nearly four years. Both the sons of jailed leader Ajay Chautala have prepared enough ground among the youth during their stay in the INLD. The Jind rally which had overwhelming presence of the youngsters indicated that they have been able to retain their young supporters with them in the new outfit.

The young supporters had worked hard to ensure the victory of Dushyant in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls in Hisar. Later, Digvijay held the reins of the party’s student wing and infused a new lease of life in the young support base.

Neeraj Singh, a resident of Radaur in Yamunanagar district, said that he was impressed with the young leadership of Dushyant. “Dushyant as well as Digvijay have a direct connect with the youth. They are accessible as well as supportive. We want a leader who has a similar approach and vision like us. They are obviously concerned about the issues of youth and emerge as a hope for the youngsters,” he added.

A political expert stated that the absence of senior (by age) activists was not a good sign for the new outfit. “Josh ke saath hosh aur anubhav bhi hona chahiya jo senior karyakartaon se aata hai. (Along with enthusiasm, they need experience which comes from the senior workers). Let’s see how far they go. The next elections are crucial for them,” he said, while adding that lesser number of women in the rally despite the presence of Naina Chautala was also a matter of concern for them.