After its success in the Lok Sabha elections, Congress is said to be toying with the idea of advancing assembly advancing Assembly elections in Haryana and Jharkhand along with those in Maharashtra and Arunachal Pradesh scheduled by October.

But the southwest monsoon, which has been playing truant so far, has thrown the party leadership into a dilemma. Sources in the party as well as in the government say that the progress of monsoon could influence ruling Congress' call on timing of the assembly elections.

Congress sources said the leadership could take a call on the issue after getting reports on how the monsoon will be progressing.

Haryana being a predominantly agriculture state, a good and timely monsoon could make farmers happy and Congress in that case could go for elections in October, along with the poll in Maharashtra, they said.

Congress' success in Lok Sabha elections in Haryana where the party won nine of the ten seats has also prompted such thinking.

Though BJP and INLD had formed an alliance in the state and Bhajan Lal-led Janhit Congress too tried to cut into its vote, Congress had made mincemeat of both the challenges. Jharkhand is currently under Governor's rule, with the Assembly under suspended animation. Fresh Efforts have also started for installation of a Congress-JMM Government.

Though the top leadership of Congress and JMM are not in favour of forming an alternative government and are even talking of advancing the assembly elections, MLAs from the two parties as well as from RJD are very keen.

... contd.