BJP faces multi-corner hurdle as it looks to retain power in Haryana

The ruling BJP, which was propelled to power in Haryana by a dramatic surge in its vote share five years ago, faces a multi-level hurdle this time in its "Mission 75 plus" as it aims to retain power in the state.

With Haryana going to polls on October 21, over the next few days parties will face an uphill task to pick their best for the 90 seats.

While the main contest is seen between the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress, other players in the poll ring include Indian National Lok Dal, Jannayak Janata Party formed after a vertical split in INLD, BSP, AAP and Swaraj India party.

Unemployment, youth, farmers, employees, water issues and alleged non-fulfilment of poll promises of the BJP are going to be some of the issues likely to be raised by the opposition.

For the ruling party, transparency in governance, zero tolerance for corruption, giving jobs on merit, implementation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Haryana and achievements of state and central governments are going to be the poll issues. Scrapping of Article 370 is also likely to be raised by BJP in the run-up to the election.

The BJP is upbeat after its stupendous show in the 2019 general election, winning all the 10 Lok Sabha seats in the state.

The polls have come at a time when opposition parties in Haryana are in a disarray.

INLD, formed by former deputy prime minister the late Devi Lal, has suffered a series of setbacks during the past one year after its split because of a feud in the Chautala family.

Most of INLD's sitting MLAs and prominent leaders have switched over to the BJP ahead of polls. Abhay Singh Chautala is among only a handful of prominent leaders left in the party.

Factionalism had marred Haryana Congress too, though with recent changes made in the state unit by the high command, the party leaders claim that is a thing of past and everyone is united to take on the BJP.

In a bid to end factionalism, the Congress has named Kumari Selja chief of its state unit and appointed former chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda the Congress Legislature Party leader, and Kiran Choudhary head of its election manifesto committee.

AAP, JJP and BSP are fighting the polls independently. JJP's alliance with BSP collapsed earlier this month.

For the BJP, Chief Minister M L Khattar claims his party will comfortably cross 75 seats.

Asked with whom he sees his party's contest, Khattar said, "The entire opposition is in a disarray, but on some individual seats there will be contest."