After the Congress romped home with nine of the 10 Lok Sabha seats in Haryana, there was little doubt that Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda would want to take advantage of the win and prepone the Assembly elections due in March next year. The speculation has now given way to virtual confirmation with the state government already in poll mode.

At numerous public and party meetings, Hooda has been asking people to gear up for the Assembly elections and has announced a slew of sops for different sections of society, including farmers, traders, students and women. Obviously, his hands will be tied when elections are officially announced and the model code of conduct is enforced.

Besides pandering to various sections of voters like the Sikhs — by announcing a date for a separate SGPC after the Assembly elections are over — Hooda has struck a body blow to the already decimated opposition parties. His prize catch is former finance minister Sampat Singh, who is considered one of the top Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) leaders, next only to Om Prakash Chautala. Hooda was also able to rope in some other senior INLD leaders, as well as some from Kuldeep Bishnoi’s Haryana Janhit Party (HJP).

There is little doubt that the Opposition parties in Haryana are in a state of disarray. The INLD is now mainly a triumvirate, with Chautala heading the party and his two sons controlling it. The party had drawn a blank with its alliance partner, the BJP, in the LS polls. While there are serious differences among both party cadres over the issue, given the understanding between Chautala and BJP leader L K Advani, the two parties are expected to jointly contest the Assembly elections.

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