Haryana’s political arena is heating up with all parties stepping up their preparations for the forthcoming assembly elections, slated for next year. The landscape presents a probable multi-faceted contest, with key players including the ruling BJP-JJP coalition and opposition parties, Congress and INLD.
In an attempt to maintain its stronghold, the BJP is reportedly keeping a close watch on ministers who have not met the party’s expectations. BJP’s high command and Chief Minister Manohar Lal are insisting on an effective working style and heightened rural presence from these ministers by July 1, 2023. The aim is to maximise the party’s political leverage and extract benefits in the elections.
Manohar Lal is continuously directing his ministers to maintain a robust presence among the general populace ahead of the polls. This mandate comes against a backdrop of mounting discord between the BJP-JJP led state government and the rural community, driven by disputes over farm laws and e-tendering among Sarpanches. As the elections approach, the state government is determined to bridge this gap, directing ministers to pay regular visits to rural areas. In the past, the performance of many ministers has exacerbated challenges for the government, leading the party high command to instruct leaders to enhance their operational style to address voter issues in a timely manner. It is noteworthy that the previous 2019 assembly elections saw seven cabinet ministers facing defeat, a substantial blow to the BJP. Among the defeated were Omprakash Dhankhar, Ram Bilas Sharma, Kavita Jain, Krishna Bedi, Subhash Barala, and Krishan Lal Panwar. The ministers have mostly been engaged in Grievances Committee meetings and closed-door discussions with party workers and leaders. However, this has caused discontent among voters and the Aam Janata Party workers. Addressing the gravity of the issue, the Chief Minister instructed all ministers to dedicate specific days to meet with the public and address their concerns, though the situation largely remained unchanged.
Home Minister Anil Vij has been a notable exception, consistently meeting the public and party workers at his office and residence. However, his public meetings ceased after the Chief Minister initiated a public dialogue programme. Amid these circumstances, the party is exerting pressure on underperforming ministers to enhance their contributions as the elections loom.