So far, it was believed that Haryana assembly elections will essentially be a battle between Congress and BJP, and smaller parties like INLD and JJP will not cut much ice. But now with INLD forging an alliance with BSP, the state is set to see a triangular contest, reports Pawan Kumar Bansal
Both the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) and the BSP were redundant in Haryana politics until now. But after the just forged tie-up between the two parties, the alliance has become a third force in the state. While the alliance may not win a significant number of seats, it will definitely cut into the votes of Congress, which is hopeful of forming the next government by riding the anti-incumbency wave against the BJP government. The newly formed alliance has jolted the Congress.
Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Leader of the Opposition and former Haryana CM, however has asserted that it will still be a direct contest between Congress and BJP, and claimed that INLD-BSP alliance has been formed not for winning the elections but to cut anti-BJP votes. The alliance is eyeing anti-BJP votes from Jat and Dalit communities. It was believed that Jats being anti-BJP and Dalits being pro-Congress, will vote for the Congress. But Abhay Chautala of INLD, a Jat leader, and BSP boss Mayawati can together sway the Jat and Dalit votes in favour of the alliance candidates making it a triangular contest.
Although the alliance in the past has not given even average results, how its candidates will perform this time will be keenly watched. Political commentator and analyst Devinder Singh Surjewala however said that people have already made up their mind to defeat BJP candidates due to anti people policies of the BJP government. As the natural choice for the people is Congress, the INLD- BSP alliance will have very little impact on the voting pattern, according to Surjewala.
Abhay Chautala said that the BSP will contest 30 seats out of ninety and his party will contest remaining fifty seven seats. He said that in case the alliance wins the election and forms the government, he will be the Chief Minister.
Meanwhile, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which was part of the INDIA alliance in the Lok Sabha polls and its candidate Sushil Gupta contested the Kurukshetra seat, has now decided to contest all 90 seats. The party’s senior leader, Anurag Dhanda, claims that people will elect them, as they have seen how the governments of both the BJP and Congress in the past had failed to deliver. The Jannayak Janta Party (JJP) of Dushyant Chautala will also contest all 90 seats.
The BJP is pleased with the development as they believe the INLD- BSP alliance will divide the anti-BJP votes. For example, at the Kurukshetra Lok Sabha seat, where BJP candidate and industrialist Naveen Jindal won by a narrow margin, the result was primarily due to the fact that Abhay Chautala had cornered anti-BJP votes that would have otherwise gone to the INDIA alliance candidate Sushil Kumar Gupta
Meanwhile, instead of presenting any vision or addressing major problems such as poor health services, unemployment, and the poor law and order situation, almost all the parties are vying with each other in promising freebies to attract voters. The INLD-BSP alliance has taken the lead by promising Rs 7,500 per month as old age pension and employment for all unemployed youths, as well as free potable drinking water and electricity bill waiver up to Rs 500 per month. To lure the media, Congress has promised to increase the pension of retired journalists.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah has taken charge of the Haryana elections. The BJP has already announced a series of concessions including giving more power to village sarpanches by providing Rs 20 lakh for development works besides increasing their pay and perks.
Besides, the BJP, which has declared to contest all the ninety seats, above all is banking upon polarization of non-Jat votes in its favour. To strengthen this strategy, Rao Inderjit, Krishan Pal Gujjar and Manohar Lal, belonging to Ahir, Gujjar and Punjabi castes were inducted in the Modi government. Nayab Singh Saini of Saini community was made the chief minister of the state. And now with the appointment of a Brahmin Mohan Lal as state BJP chief the circle of polarization is complete. Besides, the BJP cadre draws confidence from the fact that the party is ruling at the centre.
As the Assembly elections, which are due in the month of October 2024, approach, the BJP may see the anti-incumbency factor becoming more prominent. As of now, the party is definitely worried by the anti-BJP winds blowing in the state.
