The BJP squirmed when, just 3 hours before the ECI announced in New Delhi that elections would be held in Haryana on October 1 — which was later deferred to October 5 — about a month earlier than scheduled, CM Saini had been telling media that election would not be advanced, reports Pawan Kumar Bansal
The Election Commission of India has rescheduled Haryana elections to October 5 from the earlier announced date of October 1. The ECI decision came following the representation made by Mohan Lal Badoli, President of Haryana BJP.
It may be mentioned that about earlier date of October 1, Haryana CM Naib Saini was caught off guard as just three hours before the the ECI announced in New Delhi that elections would be held in Haryana on October 1—about a month earlier than scheduled—CM Saini had been telling newsmen in Chandigarh that the election would not be advanced.
Though the ECI has postponed the election by four days but questions are being raised in the political and official circles over the leadership of Haryana CM Nayab Saini? He is the CM face of BJP, but was caught unawares on the issue of election-schedule. Although it is the prerogative of the Election Commission of India to declare election schedule, normally the concerned state government is sounded in advance. Moreover, the BJP is in power at the Centre. Whether the central BJP leadership was also unaware of it or it deliberately didn’t share information with CM Nayab Saini ?
Also, whether Union Urban Development Minister Manohar Lal, the blue-eyed boy of PM , Narender Modi was also unaware or he deliberately didn’t share the information with Nayab Saini to put him in an embarrassing position. Nayab Saini, it may be mentioned, is becoming more popular due to his easy availability to the party-workers and ordinary people in sharp contrast with the arrogant behavior of his predecessor, Manohar Lal Khattar.
It may be mentioned that Mohan Lal Badoli, State President of the BJP, has written to the Election Commission of India for rescheduling of election date arguing that there is six-day break before and after the elections with only one intervening working day, and therefore, there will be low voter turnout as people will go holidaying.
According to political analyst Devinder Surjewala, the BJP is worried due to the fact that urban people who, the BJP believes, are its supporters normally go for outings during holidays and rural voters, believed to be anti-BJP, stay at home and vote enthusiastically.
The BJP is facing anti-incumbency sentiments also. Change of guard by replacing CM Manohar Lal with Nayab Saini in the run up to Lok Sabha election has not changed the situation much. Although during this short period, Nayab Saini has taken several steps to check the impact of anti-incumbency by empowering sarpanches with more financial power to spend on development works and ensured that people’s grievances regarding irregularities in making of property identity cards are solved by deputy commissioners by holding daily meetings known as “Samadhan Shivirs,” but he failed to give the message that he is in charge of state of affairs in the state.
It may be recalled that sarpanches were lathi- charged during the regime of Manohar Lal and there was widespread resentment over the issue of irregularities in making of property identity cards.
Meanwhile, politics of Haryana is so lucrative and attractive that a large number of retired judges, doctors, IAS officers, cops, players and journalists are trying to enter the fray. Haryana, due to its proximity with the national capital and being the headquarters of about four hundred fortune companies is go-to state for the politicians. Although in the past also, several judges, IAS officers, players, doctors and police personnel have tried their luck in electoral-game but the beeline for tickets this time is extra-ordinary and interesting. About half a dozen retired IAS officers and cops of Haryana are also in the race for tickets. Retired DGP Baljit Sandhu, retired ADGP Subash Yadav and V Kamraj are also vying for assembly tickets.
