Organized with an eye on 2024 poll, Jan Samvad programmes in Haryana have not gone the way BJP would have wished. Confronted with sharp queries from public, CM Khattar lost his cool at least at three places in Sirsa district during these events, reports Jag Mohan Thaken
The increased political activity in the state of Haryana is a clear indicator to the fact that all parties are gearing up for the upcoming 2024 electoral battleground.
After securing impressive victories in Himachal Pradesh and Karnataka, the Congress has now started flexing its muscle in Haryana. Former Chief Minister, Bhupinder Singh Hooda is trying hard to energize the Congress through ‘Hath se Hath Jodo’ programmes. But the infighting in the party may hamper Congress’ chances of securing a decisive win in the state.
Aam Aadmi Party, which has also thrown its hat in the ring, does not seem to gather much moss. It may cut into some anti-Congress city-based votes, but will get no remarkable support in the rural areas as the result of recently held Adampur by-election has amply demonstrated. Despite its candidate being a Jat, the party could not save the security deposit as out of the total 131,523 votes polled, AAP only managed to secure 3,420 votes.
The ruling BJP has been in election mode since long. While BJP state president Om Prakash Dhankhar is organizing district-wise meetings of workers, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar is also trying to woo the public through his ‘Jan Samwad’ (public dialogue) programmes being organized with the help of government machinery. Only time will tell what will be the impact of these programmes on the electoral fortunes of the BJP.
However, these Jan Samvad programmes have not gone the way the saffron party would have wished. Faced with some sharp questions raised by the public, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar reportedly lost his cool at least at three places in Sirsa district during these Jan Samvad programmes. The Chief Minister was even gheraoed by hundreds of angry villagers during the Jan Samvad programme at Dongra Ahir, an Ahir (Yadav) dominated village of Narnaul district. The siege of the place where the Chief Minister was lodged vividly reflects the widespread public anger directed towards the BJP and its government
BJP’s journey in Haryana
The BJP had for the first time ascended to the position of Chief Minister in 2014 in the state which came into being in 1966. In 2014 Lok Sabha elections, due to decline in Congress vote bank owing to its image smeared by corruption charges and the Modi wave sweeping most parts of the country, the BJP won seven of the total 10 seats in the state. Indian National Lok Dal Party won two seats of Sirsa and Hisar under the leadership of former Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala. The Congress won the only one seat of Rohtak, where Dipendra Hooda, son of former Chief Minister Bhupendra Singh Hooda, got elected.
