Haryana Cong Fails To Capitalise On Ruling Coalitions Failure

The Congress in Haryana has failed to take advantage of the growing unpopularity of the ruling BJP-Haryana Vikas Party coalition.

The Congress remains a divided house in the state with the three factions led by PCC president Bhupinder Singh Hooda, former Chief Minister Bhajan Lal and former PCC chief Birender Singh working at cross purposes.

As a result, the Congress high-command has not been able to decide the names of the candidates for the 10 Lok Sabha seats in Haryana.

Party general secretary Ahmed Patels best efforts notwithstanding the three veterans are at loggerheads, Interestingly, all three claim greater proximity to 10 Janpath. According to sources, it is primarily a clash of egos with all three trying to asset his authority in the distribution of tickets.

Bhajan Lal has felt sidelined ever since the elevation of Hooda as the PCC president last year. Hooda has the distinction of defeating former deputy prime minister Devi Lal twice, in the 1991 and 1996 Lok Sabha elections.

Devi Lal will contest as a nominee of the Haryana Lok Dal (Rashtriya) with the support of the Bhaujan Samaj Party from Rohtak. Hooda, in all probability, will be the Congress nominee from the seat.

However, poll analysts predict that this time, it will be an uphill task for Hooda since Devi Lal remains the most popular political figure in his home state. Hoodas detractors have openly declared that they would ensure his defeat from Rohtak

As things stand today, despite the unpopularity of the Bansi Lal government, the Congress does not appear to have strengthened its positions in the state. On the other hand, former Chief Minister and Devi Lals elder son Om Prakash Chautala, now heading the Haryana Lok Dal (Rashtriya) is attracting good crowd at public meetings.

The Congress remains a divided house in the state with the different factions working at cross purposes