Abhay targets Hoodas at rally, calls Rohtak Devi Lal's 'karmabhumi'

INLD national president Abhay Chautala today launched a sharp attack on a former CM, Bhupinder Hooda, and his son MP Deepender Hooda. He also struck an emotional chord with locals by describing Rohtak as the ‘karmabhumi’ of Devi Lal and hinted at laying emphasis on this politically crucial region to rebuild INLD’s presence.

Abhay was addressing the gathering during the 'Samman Rally’ organised here to mark the 112th birth anniversary of former Deputy PM Devi Lal.

He also announced that if the INLD came to power in 2029, the party would provide free electricity to all consumers, double the social security pension, remove unemployment, root out corruption, and drive criminals out of the state.

The event saw the participation of several prominent leaders, including SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal, J&K Deputy CM Surinder Choudhary, daughter of K Chandrashekar Rao (the first CM of Telangana) K Kavitha, and Congress leader Prof Sampat Singh, all of whom hailed Abhay as the political successor to Devi Lal.

Abhay used the occasion to demonstrate a show of strength in Rohtak, which is widely seen as a stronghold of the Hooda family.

The INLD won 31 seats in the 2009 Assembly elections, which dropped to 19 in 2014. Following a split in the party, its tally plunged to just one seat in the 2019 polls. In the 2024 elections, the party secured two seats. Against this backdrop, the rally is seen as a crucial effort to reclaim the party’s foothold.

Targeting the Hoodas, Abhay branded the Congress as the “B team” of the saffron party.

“Instead of challenging the BJP during the 2024 elections, Bhupinder Hooda and his son labelled the INLD as a ‘vote kaatu’ (vote splitting) party, indicating that they were acting at the behest of the BJP. The INLD is not a vote-splitting party; it has the strength to eliminate the Congress,” he said.

The INLD chief accused the BJP-led Central government of attempting to undermine democracy by targeting opposition leaders. He also condemned the BJP government in the state for the rising crime rates and said people would oust the BJP from power in 2029. He also charged the JJP with perpetrating multiple scams in collusion with the BJP during the previous government.

“The JJP betrayed the people by forming a coalition government with the BJP after seeking votes in the name of Devi Lal and criticising the BJP during the campaign. As a result, the people rejected the JJP in the 2024 polls,” he added.

Earlier, Sampat Singh remarked that Rohtak had witnessed a significant political change in recent times. He praised Abhay, stating that organising a big show in Rohtak, within just a year of the Assembly elections, was a major challenge.

“I observe a major change in Haryana’s political landscape in the coming days, and this change will take place under the leadership of Abhay, who is taking forward Devi Lal’s legacy,” said Singh.

Describing Abhay as the true heir of Devi Lal, Sukhbir Badal said only a regional party could ensure the welfare of farmers and the poor, and urged them to unite and bring back the INLD to power.

Choudhary, meanwhile, criticised the Union government for not fulfilling its promise of granting full statehood to J&K. He also accused the government of betraying the farmers and urged the youth to stay away from drugs.

K Kavitha, describing the BJP as anti-farmer, urged Abhay to announce free electricity for farmers on the lines of the previous Telangana government if the INLD came to power.

INLD MLAs Aditya Devi Lal and Arjun Chautala also addressed the gathering. Representatives of Mewat and Brij khaps honoured Abhay by presenting him a turban.