As the Haryana Assembly elections draw near, with just one year left, political parties in the state are ramping up efforts to strengthen their positions and woo supporters from rival factions. In recent times, there has been a visible trend of political leaders and their supporters switching allegiances, with parties vying to outdo each other by attracting high-profile defectors.
The main Opposition party, Congress, has been relentlessly targeting the ruling BJP-JJP coalition, claiming that public dissatisfaction with the government’s policies is driving party members and leaders to abandon ship. According to Congress stalwart Bhupinder Singh, more than 50 senior leaders have left the ruling coalition to join Congress, signalling a potential shift in power dynamics ahead of the elections.
In a bid to regain power after 19 years in the political wilderness, Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) General Secretary and MLA Abhay Singh Chautala has embarked on a Parivartak Yatra across Haryana, aiming to bring back party supporters and cadres who have defected. Recently, hundreds of people from the Rai constituency switched their allegiance to INLD during a public event.
Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister and Jannayak Janata Party (JJP) leader Dushyant Chautala has been seizing every opportunity to criticise his estranged uncle, Abhay Chautala, following a family feud. Dushyant Chautala maintains that the JJP’s policies continue to attract new members, as evidenced by the recent announcement that Nisha Garg, the only municipal head of the Aam Aadmi Party, would be joining the JJP. The party also welcomed a senior INLD leader from Kharkhoda.
Political parties in Haryana have been quick to publicise the defections of even lesser-known leaders and supporters, using social media to magnify the perceived impact of these changes. By emphasising the former affiliations of new party members, parties attempt to create an impression of a mass exodus from rival factions.
To ensure the loyalty of defectors, parties often promise them due respect and recognition within the new political landscape.
However, instances of leaders leaving their new party due to perceived slights or unfulfilled promises are not uncommon, as the competition for power and influence continues to intensify ahead of the Haryana Assembly elections.