May 22 and the litmus test

Three by-elections in Haryana on May 22 will decide the future of the state8217;s three top leaders...

Three by-elections in Haryana on May 22 will decide the future of the state8217;s three top leaders8212;Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and former chief ministers Bhajan Lal and Om Prakash Chautala.

The by-elections were called after sitting Congress MLAs Bhajan Lal Adampur, Dharampal Singh Malik Gohana and Rakesh Kamboj Indri were disqualified by Haryana Assembly Speaker Raghuvir Singh Kadian after they joined the Haryana Janhit Congress. Bhajan Lal was disqualified on March 25 while the other two were disqualified on March 13 this year. All three are contesting the elections.

This is Hooda8217;s first real test after coming to power in the state more than three years ago. The Congress had won the previous three assembly by-elections and one Lok Sabha by-election but those were almost immediately after he took over the reins of the state.

For Bhajan Lal, who is contesting from Adampur, the election is a battle of survival while for Chautala, it is an opportunity to revive his INLD that was thrown out of power in the last assembly polls. In this May battle, Chautala has taken on Hooda in a war of words. The people8217;s honeymoon with Hooda, he claims, is over and they will teach him a lesson for his 8216;corrupt rule8217;.

Bhajan Lal8217;s attacks too are becoming shrill and his son Kuldeep Bishnoi has openly accused Hooda of corruption.

Hooda, however, is unfazed by the criticism and maintains that the Congress will retain power, riding on his popularity and the development he has brought to the sate. He is going all out, campaigning in one village after another for his candidates. His effort is understandable considering an adverse result would have a far reaching impact on his political standing in the state, especially since the Opposition is calling this election a referendum on the performance of his government.

But May 22 is not just Hooda8217;s test date. It8217;s equally important for Bhajan Lal who is seeking election from Adampur, a constituency from where he has never been defeated. Both the INLD and the Congress have fielded political heavyweights from Adampur8212;former Finance Minister Sampat Singh is contesting on an INLD ticket while INLD supremo Chautala8217;s younger brother Ranjit Singh is contesting on the Congress ticket.

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But in this battle of personalities, issues that concern the people of Haryana have gone completely missing from the election agenda. Haryana is battling its worst power and water crisis in recent years and its law and order situation has been deteriorating steadily but these issues find no mention in the election campaign. As each party accuses the other of corruption in a bid to win, the loser could well be the voter.