Cong on strong wicket,INLD distant second

While aisa pehli baar hua hai,the Congress punchline for its Haryana Assembly campaign referring to the states development on all fronts under its rule,may be open to debate,it is indeed an election of many firsts....

While aisa pehli baar hua hai,the Congress punchline for its Haryana Assembly campaign referring to the states development on all fronts under its rule,may be open to debate,it is indeed an election of many firsts.

For the first time,since the state was formed in 1966,all the parties are going it alone,apart from the token alliance on two seats between the INLD and the Shiromani Akali Dal. Thus there are at least five- cornered contests in all 90 constituencies with the Congress facing the INLD,the BJP,the BSP and the Haryana Janhit Congress HJC and a six-cornered contest in at least 30 constituencies where Congress rebels are in the fray. While the multiplicity of candidates is generally expected to benefit the Congress,it may throw up unexpected results in some constituencies due to cross voting.

It is also the first time that none of the formidable Lal trinity Devi Lal,Bansi Lal and Bhajan Lal are directly in the election fray. While the first two Lals are no more,Bhajan Lal recently won the LS elections and is not contesting the Assembly elections. However,their children and grandchildren are in the fray.

It is also the first time in nearly 40 years that the ruling party is making a serious bid to return to power. Punters are betting on Congress winning 56 seats with the INLD trailing behind with 17 seats. Most political pundits think the final figure would hover around these figures,with an error margin of five.

The issues

The theme of the ruling Congress campaign is the development work undertaken by it during the last four-and-a-half years of its rule. The party is taking credit for a better law and order situation,new land acquisition policy,welfare of the girl child,women,students and pensioners,setting up of industry and procuring a better deal for farmers.

The fragmented Opposition has chosen to target the Congress on the severe power shortage and the poor law and order situation. A steep rise in the prices of essential commodities,including pulses and vegetables,are also being attributed to the poor administration.

Another factor that has come into play is the chaudhars or regional satraps asking voters for a mandate to ensure a chief minister from their particular regions. Even within the Congress,voters in the Jat heartland of Rohtak are being urged to vote for Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda,while Finance Minister Birender Singhs supporters want him to be elected the Bangar chaudhar CM.

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Caste is an important factor in the majority of the constituencies with the broad division of Jat and non-Jat dominated constituencies. While the BSP is making a pitch for the reserved constituencies,the HJC is wooing the non-Jats and the BJP is concentrating on the urban areas. The INLD is seen as a party of the Jats and is the only Opposition party with a trans-state appeal.

Rebels

Only the Congress faces the problem of rebels. Nearly 30 rebels are in the fray and have been expelled by the party. However,only about 10 are considered serious contenders.

The campaign

The INLD has former CM Om Prakash Chautala as its star campaigner while L K Advani and Sushma Swaraj,among others,campaigned for the BJP candidates. Mayawati did not show up and the HJC banked almost exclusively on former chief minister Bhajan Lal. The Congress,however,put together a star line-up with Hooda himself traversing the state and visits by UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi,Prime Minister Manmohan Singh,Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi and other central leaders.