Swaraj India to fill Oppn space in state, says Yadav

Sushil Manav

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 22

With the Opposition parties in doldrums, Yogendra Yadav’s Swaraj India is eyeing to fill the political vacuum in Haryana by contesting from all 90 seats of the state in the upcoming Assembly polls. The party will be releasing its first list of candidates tomorrow.

“We are not contesting the upcoming Assembly polls for victory or forming government in Haryana. We are here to fill the vacuum in the Opposition. Today, the Congress leaders are busy in their infighting. They will remain in this situation till 15 days are left for the polling. The INLD and its offshoot JJP have been completely rejected by people as well as their own workers. All their leaders are running to the BJP. There is virtually no Opposition left in the state,” Yadav said while speaking to The Tribune.

The Swaraj India’s national president said his party would go among people with real issues concerning them and seek their support.

“For us, people’s issues matter more than vote politics. Ours was the only political party that opposed parole to Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim when others were either justifying it or were silent. We gave reasons why giving parole to Ram Rahim could prove disastrous and we stood firm on our stand,” Yadav added.

Besides, the Swaraj India is against opening of liquor vends in villages where the panchayat passes a resolution to this effect.

“We are for theka bandi (closure of vends) and not sharab bandi (prohibition). But it is unfortunate that the government doesn’t close vends despite resolutions of panchayats on one pretext or the other,” Yadav alleged.

Among other issues, the Swaraj India is advocating settlement of the SYL issue through negotiations, since the SC verdict has not served Haryana’s cause. It is also opposed to the division of voters on caste lines.

The Swaraj India will also announce a ‘candidate lokpal’ to hear complaints against the party’s candidates and take suitable action.

‘Cong beset with infighting, INLD rejected’

We are not contesting the upcoming Assembly polls for victory or forming government in Haryana. We are here to fill the vacuum in the Opposition. Today, the Congress leaders are busy in their infighting. The INLD and its offshoot JJP have been completely rejected by people. There is virtually no Opposition left in the state. — Yogendra Yadav, president, Swaraj India