Amitabh Shukla | Chandigarh
Change is in the air in Chandigarh ,
the joint capital of Haryana and Punjab . Not only is
there a change in weather but winds of political change blew across the State
in the run-up to the Assembly polls.
All exit polls suggested the rout
of the ruling Congress. Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, who had an
extended run of almost 10 years, is all set to bid adieu, if the exit pollsters
prove to be on the point.
The sentiments of employees of
the State Government are perhaps a true indicator to gauge the mood of the
people and the way political wind is blowing. Employees of the Haryana Civil
Secretariat in Chandigarh have
already written the Congress off.
“It now remains to be seen
whether Congress would be reduced to single digit or gets into double digits or
a dozen seats,” said a Director level officer. The official and other employees
in the Secretariat are waiting for the next Government to take over.
In a political masterstroke, BJP
in Haryana dumped the baggage of its ally Kuldeep Bishnoi led Haryana Janhit
Congress and fought on all the 90 seats alone. Emboldened by the Modi wave,
induction of top leaders from Congress and anti-incumbency sentiments against
the Hooda Government, BJP hopes to form the Government alone for the first
time. Last minute support of the
influential Sirsa based Dera Sacha Sauda, tilted the scale in its favour.
INLD gave BJP a run for its money
in the run up to the polls with its chief Om Prakash Chautala getting benefit
of a sympathy wave and attracting substantial crowd in his rallies. However,
INLD failed to make an impression in the urban areas and lacked a direction
with two of its top leaders-party chief himself and his son Ajay Chautala in
jail. It was no match to the aggressive, business like approach of the BJP
where Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party chief Amit Shah addressed over a
dozen rallies each.
Hooda looked jaded and out of
touch with the ground realities. A series of pre poll sops failed to cut ice as
big ticket corruption (Robert Vadra-DLF land deal) rocked the state. Though he
put a brave face forward against heavy odds, he is fighting more for the post
poll arithmetic in state Congress rather than for forming the Government.
Given the realities, Hooda cannot
even hope to become Leader of Opposition as INLD is set to bag the Number two
position in the State.However, Hooda’s Cabinet had passed a note giving several
perks to former Chief Ministers a year ago. He is set to enjoy those perks
after the polls even if he is not the CM or the Leader of Opposition.
Political observers say the
massive turnout of 76.54 per cent, surpassing the 47-year old record of 72.65
per cent in 1967 indicates change. “People voted against status quo,” said a
Haryana watcher at Panjab University.BJP sources expressed confidence of a
clear majority and already informal lobbying is on for the top post. Sources
indicated that even if the party falls marginally short of the majority it has
no dearth of “friends and well-wishers” in smaller parties like HJC and Jan
Chetna Party of Venod Sharma.
Election department officials said that a
clear trend would emerge in an hour of counting and by two hours, people would
know who is forming the next government of the state. (October 19, 2014 )
No comments:
Post a Comment