Haryana MC polls: Battle-ready BJP vs faction-ridden Congress

After the Lok Sabha and Assembly polls last year, Haryana is bracing up for another battle of ballot. With municipal elections around the corner, traditional rivals BJP and Congress are set to clash yet again in a bid to wrest control of 32 municipalities, including eight municipal corporations, in the state.

Interestingly, it would a contest between the battle-ready BJP and faction-ridden and organisationally weak Congress.

Immediately after its hat-trick after October 5 Assembly election, the BJP got down to strengthening its organisational structure by launching a massive membership drive. Till now, the party has enrolled over 43 lakh members besides conducting booth-level elections, while mandal-level polls are currently under way. It will be followed by election to the district chiefs, after which the party high command would name the state president.

On the other hand, the faction-ridden Congress, which is still smarting under the surprise Assembly poll defeat, will go to the MC polls without any party organisation as its organisational elections have not been held for the last over a decade.

The party organisation, especially at the booth level, plays an important role in any elections. While the BJP recognises this fact, the Congress seems to be oblivious of this paying a heavy price in successive elections.

Meanwhile, the AAP, which is trying to find its feet in the home state of its National Convener Arvind Kejriwal since the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, has also thrown its hat in the ring expressing its desire to contest on party symbol. The other parties, the INLD and JJP, will also spice up the poll scene. Traditionally, both the parties fight election on their party symbol in certain civic bodies, while supporting like-minded candidates in other municipalities.

Well, an interesting contest is on the cards in the MC polls—dubbed as ‘mini Assembly polls’ by political observers.