Bypoll defeat intensifies infight in Congress
By Dr Ganesh Dutt Vats from Haryana
The humiliating defeat and forfeiting of deposit by Congress candidate in Hisar Lok Sabha by-election indicates unequivocally that the people of Haryana are disillusioned with the corrupt Congress regime in Haryana. It also proves that the future of Congress in Haryana as well as in the country is quite bleak.
The result of by-election is no doubt in line with the projections and predictions made by various exit polls. But its impact on both Haryana and national politics will prove to be of paramount significance. The opposition parties are interpreting it as a mandate infavour of the anti-corruption drive launched by Anna Hazare to expose Congress at national level. Despite the all out efforts made by Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and his council of ministers to wrest this seat from Haryana Janshakti Congress (HJC) the loss of deposit by Congress candidate is suggestive of the fast shrinking base of Congress and rapid disenchantment of the masses with its corrupt administration.
It would not be wrong to presume that the countdown of Congress rule has begun in Haryana. The HJC-BJP alliance has registered its first victory in a challenging situation when both the ruling party and the main opposition, the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD), were pulling all their efforts to register their victory.
This victory of BJP-HJC alliance will strengthen the political bonds between the two parties. If this alliance makes sincere efforts to enlarge its political base in Haryana, it can emerge as a formidable political force to pose a serious threat to the two erstwhile political parties—the Congress and the INLD. Despite losing the election, the INLD is not disgraced. It is trying to energise its cadre to intensify its fight to gain the power again. Therefore, the political scene in Haryana is all set to witness a tough political battle between three big formations.
