Verdict today,parties have fingers crossed

Hooda,who successfully snubbed the opposition within the party by securing tickets for almost all his supporters,seems to be the obvious choice for the chief minister’s post,unless his detractors are able to spring a surprise.

With the state recording heavy polling,72.71 per cent,both the Congress and the opposition parties are interpreting it in their favour.

While Hooda attributed it to a “pro-incumbency wave” in the state,the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) is confident of throwing Congress out of power.

“We will form the next government. People had been waiting for this moment to vote out the corrupt Congress,” said INLD secretary general Ajay Singh Chautala.

He is not deterred with the opinion polls’ results either. “Everybody knows the truth of these polls,which are decided in Delhi. During Lok Sabha elections,they had declared us winners at a few seats,but we lost them all,” said Chautala.

Haryana BJP chief Kishan Pal Gujjar,however,tried to be a little realistic. “If opposition fares well,we will do every thing possible to keep the Congress out of power,” he said.

Hooda detractors are,meanwhile,keeping quiet,as their gameplan will depend on the number of seats Congress gets. They are,however,sure that the Congress will form the government.

Former Finance Minister Birender Singh,who had been openly challenging Hooda,said: “The Congress will surely win.” Singh is facing a tough challenge from INLD supremo Om Prakash Chautala in his native constituency of Uchana Kalan. “I shall only stay at Jind for the result and will then rush to Delhi,” said Singh. Union Minister for Poverty Alleviation Selja and former Union minister Rao Inderjit Singh,besides Forests Minister Kiran Choudhry,were the other leaders who had been vocal against Hooda.

Though the Congress high command had preferred Hooda during the allotment of tickets,the detractors claim things have changed at the top level and in case the winning numbers did not favour the party,they also stand a chance.