Tightrope for parties in ‘early’ elections

Geetanjali Gayatri

Tribune news Service

Chandigarh, August 16

With the Assembly elections in the state advanced by nearly three weeks over the 2019 poll and scheduled for October 1, it is over to the voters in Haryana even as political parties claim they are battle-ready though the “early” elections are likely to be a tightrope for them.

Schedule for assembly poll

• September 5: Issuance of notification for Haryana poll
• September 12: Last date for filing nominations
• September 13: Scrutiny of nominations
• September 16: Last date for withdrawal of candidature
• October 1: Polling day
• October 4: Counting of votes

While the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) battles anti-incumbency, the Congress is bogged down by factionalism, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is yet to get a foothold in the state and the Jannayak Janta Party (JJP) and the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) are looking at staying relevant in the present political scene.

Though the BJP has used the last two months since the parliamentary elections to woo voters by making several announcements and Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini has extensively toured the state to not only make himself more visible but also to establish a direct contact with the public, the BJP faces an uphill task in the state.

“The anti-incumbency against our government, evident in our Lok Sabha performance where we won only five of the 10 seats, shows our candidate selection has to be fair and without favour. Haryana is crucial to us,” a senior BJP leader said, adding that the Haryana Government under Saini had made a 100-day roll out plan for various schemes which couldn’t be announced.

The Congress top brass has failed to get various factions within the party on a common platform. While the duo of former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and his Member of Parliament son, Deepender Singh Hooda, is travelling the length and breadth of the state, the other leaders — MP Kumari Selja and Rajya Sabha MP Randeep Singh Surjewala — too have extensively been campaigning in the state.

“It is essential that the Congress present a united front to the public since things are looking up for the party since the Lok Sabha elections. All leaders need to come on to a common platform, join hands and wrest power from the BJP since this is likely to be a direct contest with the ruling party,” a Congress insider said.

The AAP leadership, too, was only starting to hold rallies and programmes in the state. However, with the elections begin announced ahead of schedule, the party, still to make its presence felt, will have to get its act together rather quickly.

Meanwhile, the JJP, an offshoot of the INLD, has seen a number of its leaders deserting the party or revolting against the leadership to openly support rival national parties. With the announcement of polls, Uklana MLA Anoop Dhanak, considered a loyalist of JJP national president Ajay Chautala, bid adieu to the party which is in a crisis.

The JJP along with the INLD which had only one MLA in the 90-member House and has now entered into an alliance with the Bahujan Samaj Party, are looking at staying relevant in seats with Jat voters.

Though speculation of an “early election” in the state was rife since the Lok Sabha polls held in May this year, the indications started to come only with the unfolding of events since this month began.

While the ECI’s visit to Haryana earlier this week to assess poll preparedness was the first sign, dera chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim being granted 21 days furlough was another indication since he is “let out” ahead of any election in the state. While the CM has already chaired two Cabinet meetings in the last fortnight to announce various schemes, another one was scheduled for tomorrow.

Also, holding an early press conference, today, he announced “speedy compensation” of Rs 2,000 per acre to farmers as “bonus” for increased input costs due to inclement weather besides other incentives.