Former Union Minister and Congress leader Birender Singh on Sunday expressed concerns over the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) position in the upcoming Haryana assembly polls, citing the party’s reliance on Prime Minister Narendra Modi to campaign as a sign of their struggles.
Singh remarked, “The BJP’s position is concerning, and that is why Prime Minister Modi is campaigning here. His involvement is not typically needed in state elections, but given the BJP’s current situation, they have called him in. The outcome, however, will be determined by the people, who seem to have already made up their minds.”
He claimed that over 70% of the electorate is against the BJP and predicted that the party would be marginalized in the upcoming elections. “Despite 10 years in power, the BJP has failed to expand its base,” he added.
Singh also downplayed the influence of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Haryana, stating that Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s presence wouldn’t significantly impact the state’s election outcome.
Meanwhile, Haryana Congress chief Udai Bhan expressed confidence in his party’s chances, stating that they are likely to win over 70 seats in the assembly polls. “The Congress is receiving overwhelming public support, and we are poised to surpass our 2005 performance,” Bhan said.
During a rally in Kurukshetra, Prime Minister Modi took aim at Congress, accusing the party of “appeasement politics” and referencing an incident in Karnataka where a Ganesha idol was briefly placed in a protest van. He also criticized Congress for allegedly trying to eliminate reservations for Dalits and other marginalized groups.
Haryana is set to go to the polls on October 5, with votes counted in October.