The ongoing political tussle in Haryana has intensified as Jannayak Janata Party (JJP) leader and former Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala has once again accused former Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda of colluding with the BJP ahead of the crucial Rajya Sabha by-election.
The election, necessitated by Congress leader Deepender Singh Hooda’s move to the Lok Sabha, is set for September 3, with the deadline for nominations looming on August 21.
Dushyant Chautala, in a pointed attack, questioned Hooda’s decision not to field a Congress candidate for the Rajya Sabha seat. “The final date for filing nominations for the Haryana Rajya Sabha by-election is August 21. Now even 4-5 of our MLAs (who deserted JJP) have become Congressmen. The Congress candidate is now close to winning the election. If Bhupinder Hooda doesn’t have a secret understanding with the BJP, then he should field a candidate in the Rajya Sabha election. We have already promised to vote against the BJP,” Chautala posted on X (formerly Twitter).
He further intensified his criticism with a Hindi verse, “Jail Ke Dar Se Bar-Bar Bikta Rahe, Udhar Ka Ho Aur Idhar Ka Dikhta Rahe” (For fear of jail, he keeps selling himself repeatedly; he belongs to one side but appears to be on the other).
The Rajya Sabha election was necessitated by the vacancy created after Congress leader Deepender Singh Hooda moved to the Lok Sabha. The BJP, aware of the implications this election may have on the forthcoming state assembly elections likely to be held in October, is carefully weighing its options, considering both caste dynamics and electoral impact.
Bhupinder Singh Hooda has publicly stated on multiple occasions that the Congress would not field a candidate due to the party’s insufficient numbers to guarantee a victory. Hooda had previously indicated that the party might reconsider if JJP’s 10 MLAs assured their votes for the Congress candidate.
The political landscape in Haryana has witnessed a significant shift with the announcement of the assembly election schedule. Seven MLAs from the JJP-former alliance partner of the BJP, have defected, many expressing intentions to join Congress. This development has sparked concerns within Congress regarding cross-voting, especially as the party’s strength in the assembly has dwindled from the 31 seats it secured in the 2019 elections. The recent defection of Congress MLA Kiran Choudhary to the BJP has further compounded these worries. Despite Dushyant Chautala’s allegations, both Bhupinder Singh Hooda and the Congress have maintained a strategic silence, refraining from responding to the charges. However, political observers suggest that Congress’s hesitation to field a candidate might stem from the fear of internal defections and cross-voting, potentially weakening their position even further. As the Rajya Sabha election draws near, all eyes remain on the unfolding political drama in Haryana, with the outcome likely to set the tone for the upcoming assembly elections.
As per the schedule the nomination deadline is August 21, with voting set for September 3 from 9 AM to 4 PM. Results are expected to be announced on the same day, setting the stage for a high-stakes electoral battle.
