The Assembly election held on 5 October proved to be no less than a nightmare for several stalwarts and elderly leaders of Haryana as they had to face the fiasco.
The biggest blow in the assembly election was suffered by Congress bigshot and Leader of Opposition Bhupendra Singh Hooda and his son Deepender. Apart from them, this election also came as a big shock for many leaders carrying a rich political legacy. In this it is pertinent to mention that 79-year-old Ranjit Chautala, son of former Deputy Prime Minister Chaudhary Devi Lal, who held the heavy portfolio including Prison and energy then CM Manohar Lal and Nayab Singh Saini led state government has failed to prove his mettle. Ranjit Singh, who contested the election as an independent, failed to win the lolla. Notably, Ranjit Chautala was fielded by the BJP from Hisar seat in the Lok Sabha elections but he lost this election as well. After not getting a BJP ticket in the assembly elections, he decided to contest the election as an independent. In such a situation, political experts opine that Ranjit Singh Chautala is unlikely to remain in active politics.
Similarly, BJP heavyweight and former state president Om Prakash Dhankhar also had to face defeat in the elections for the second consecutive time and in a way, now his political future has been questioned because in the coming time till 2029, neither Lok Sabha elections nor assembly elections will be held, although at present he is holding the post of national secretary organization. It is noteworthy that Kuldeep Vats of Congress defeated Om Prakash Dhankhar by 16503 votes by taking 67555 votes. Om Prakash Dhankhar has got 51052 votes. Earlier in the 2019 elections, he lost to Congress candidate Kuldeep by 11245 votes. Before the Lok Sabha elections, the post of state president was also taken away from him and in a way he was marginalized in the party.
The principal opposition Congress has fought the election under the leadership of Bhupendra Singh Hooda and out of 90 a total of 72 were given to his confidants and supporter leaders but despite that, Congress had to face the brunt of defeat. This is no less than a big shock for him, his son and MP Deepender and supporting leaders. After the crushing defeat, the party high command is believed to be disgruntled with him and when he was called for a review meeting recently, he was absent from the meeting many meanings are being drawn from this too. Political experts opine that in a way, the political inning of Bhupendra Singh Hooda, who is 76 years old, is almost over. His MP son Deepender Singh Hooda is also said to be facing difficult times politically.
Captain Abhimanyu, who was the second heavyweight minister after the then Chief Minister Manohar Lal in the first BJP government, had to face defeat in the second consecutive assembly election and in a way, questions are being raised about his political career. Even before the Lok Sabha elections, he was marginalized in the party and even after he was denied the ticket from Hisar Lok Sabha seat, questions were raised continuously whether the party has sidelined him.
Congress candidate from Uchana assembly seat Brijendra Singh, son of former Union Minister Chaudhary Birendra Singh lost to the BJP candidate in a nect to neck fight by a margin of just 32 votes. He has also been a BJP MP from Hisar seat. Before the Lok Sabha elections, he had joined the Congress. No he is left with no more options does His father was constantly trying to establish his son in state politics before retiring from active politics, but this has not happened yet.
Congress veteran and Haryana Congress state president Uday Bhan faced a crushing defeat on Hodal seat by a margin of just 2595 votes. Devi Lal›s grandson and Om Prakash Chautala›s son Abhay Chautala also lost the election from Ellenabad this time. Abhay Chautala was defeated by Congress candidate Bharat Singh Beniwal by 15000 votes. Abhay Chautala got 62,865 votes. Jannayak Janata Party leader and former deputy CM Dushyant Chautala also lost his deposit in this election.
Contrary to expectations, Bhajan Lal family had to face defeat from Adampur assembly for the first time. First Kuldeep Bishnoi was not given a ticket by BJP from Hisar Lok Sabha and now his son lost the assembly election from Adampur. Kuldeep was so upset with his son›s defeat from Adampur that he started crying on the public platform. Now it is believed that he is lobbying hard for the Rajya Sabha election which is not going to be a cakewalk for him.
