People’s issues vs Modi charisma in Haryana

Raj Kumar Singh

These Lok Sabha polls in Haryana will decide the future of parties and leaders. Having won seven of the 10 seats last elections, the BJP is now under pressure to live up to that mark. The Congress expects to make gains not because of work by its cadre, but the INLD split that will see a division of Jat votes.

An INLD-BSP pact would have given a tough fight to the BJP, but the INLD split has changed all that. The BJP is only too pleased at the changed scenario and the Congress sees a ray of hope too. Barring Hisar and Sonepat, the Congress and BJP are now locked in a straight fight. The INLD is in bad shape. So much so that its sitting Sirsa MP Charanjeet Singh Rori seems out of the contest already. In Sirsa, the contest is between state Congress president Ashok Tanwar and former IRS officer Sunita Duggal.

Kurukshetra picked a non-Jat MP last time. But reposing faith in Jat voters, Abhay Chautala has fielded his son Arjun Chautala. Here too, the contest is between BJP’s Nayab Singh Saini and Congress’ Nirmal Singh. After Naveen Jindal, an accused in the coal scam, refused to contest, the Congress shifted Nirmal Singh from Ambala to Kurukshetra. Saini, a minister in the Khattar government, is a winnable candidate.

In Ambala, old rivals are face to face once again. Congress’ Selja had earlier defeated BJP’s Rattan Lal Kataria. While Selja is a heavyweight in state politics, Kataria is banking on the Modi charisma.

In Bhiwani-Mahendragarh , the BJP has placed stakes on Dharambir Singh while Congress has fielded Shruti Choudhry. In five years, the situation has changed, but the nationalism din in a seat with a large chunk of ex-servicemen, may drown all other issues.

Karnal’s tale is no less interesting. Last time, the BJP had fielded newspaper owner Ashwani Chopra. He won. But neither could he meet people’s expectations nor strike a rapport with CM Khattar. He wanted the ticket for his wife. The party chose CM’s confidant Sanjay Bhatia. The Congress has fielded Kuldeep Sharma, who is MLA from Ganaur, Sonepat. His father Chiranji Lal Sharma was MP from Karnal. The constituency is considered a Brahmin seat. Kuldeep Sharma is expeced to give a tough fight to Bhatia.

All eyes are on Sonepat. The BJP has refielded sitting MP Ramesh Chander Kaushik in this Jatland, hoping to consolidate non-Jat votes. But with Congress fielding former CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda, the contest has become interesting. Hooda is one of the tallest Jat leaders in Haryana. 

The Congress, fighting for political survival, has fielded top leaders, who must prove their mettle. On the other hand, the JJP has fielded Digvijay Chautala. He may not win but could make it difficult for Hooda.

In Rohtak too the BJP has played the Brahmin card, fielding Arvind Sharma against Hooda’s son Deepender, who has won thrice. Despite being a Jatland, it is the Yadavs, Brahmins and other non-Jat communities who have contributed to his victory in the past. But post Jat agitation and BJP’s non-Jat politics, the equations could change. 

Last time, INLD’s Dushyant Chautala had defeated Haryana Janhit Congress’ Kuldeep Bishnoi in Hisar, becoming the youngest MP. But Kuldeep Bishnoi joined the Congress and Dushyant formed the JJP. Kuldeep pressurised the Congress high command to allot ticket to his son Bhavya Bishnoi while Bangar’s Chaudhary Birender Singh managed one for his son Brijendra. So, Hisar has three families contesting against one another. No ideology, it is sheer poll math that will work here.

Gurgaon too is headed for an interesting battle. Union Minister Inderjeet Singh is the tallest leader in Ahirwal area. He was Congress MP and then BJP MP. But his long tenure may trigger anti-incumbency. Six-time MLA and former minister Capt Ajay Singh Yadav is counting on Inderjeet Singh’s shortcomings but the key to the battle is Mewat, one of the most backward districts in Haryana.

In Gurgaon seat has more than five lakh minority votes. Inderjeet Singh could be in trouble should they vote en bloc. In the industrial town of Faridabad, the BJP is betting on Union Minister Krishan Pal Gurjar. The Congress is banking on old hand Avtar Singh Bhadana. It’s a fight between two heavyweights and AAP’s Naveen Jaihind stands little chance of a win. 

It is clear no party is likely to win all 10 seats. If these elections are fought on people’s issues, it may well turn out to be a Congress-BJP contest. If Modi factor is all that weighs on the voter’s mind, the results could be quite different.