BHUPINDER SINGH HOODA

Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda is the star campaigner of the Congress in Haryana and neighbouring States such as Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Rajasthan, Punjab, and Uttarakhand. Speaking to RAJESH AHUJA, he asserts that the Congress is going to definitely win all the 10 seats in Haryana thanks to ‘pro-incumbency’ factor.

Haryana is going to the polls on May 7. What are the issues and factors at play?

The Opposition has no issue whatsoever as it lacks a positive outlook. The Opposition leaders in the State are blatantly engaging in baseless criticism of my government. The people are conscious and fully aware of our performance and achievements.

The pro-people and development-oriented policies of the UPA at the Centre and my government are visible to all the voters.

So, there is no anti-incumbency at work either against the Union government or my government. Rather, it is pro-incumbency which is dominating the election scene in Haryana.

What are the achievements of your government during the last four years which, you think, will sway the voters to exercise their franchise in favour of the Congress?

People were fed up with the misrule of the previous government. We resolved to transform Haryana into the number one State in all spheres of development. Today, the people are experiencing progress and development. Haryana is witnessing an industrial revolution in a peaceful atmosphere and it scores high in terms of development.

It has been my endeavour to bring about qualitative and quantitative changes in education. Haryana is the first State in north India to set up a women’s university. And to enable the poor to have their own house, we are implementing a Rs. 2,300 crore ‘Mahatma Gandhi Gramin Basti Yojana.’ Basic amenities are being provided to everyone. We have taken steps to enhance educational and socio-economic status of the weaker sections, especially Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes. We are committed to improve the socio-economic status of the farming community. Our scheme of waiving arrears of electricity bills of farmers amounting to Rs.1,600 crore was highly appreciated.

We have also taken initiatives to transform the power and water scenario in the State and the results are already becoming visible.

There has been marked dissidence in the Congress in Haryana. Do you think this will have a negative impact?

There is no dissidence whatsoever. No leader has spoken against the party. The so-called dissidence is in the media only. You must understand that some heartburn is natural among aspirants for the party tickets.

Is there a Punjabi issue which may have an influence on the poll results?

There is no such issue. My regime has accommodated all sections including Punjabis by giving them due representation in the Cabinet and in other posts.

What are the electoral prospects of the Congress?

We will win all the 10 seats and Chandigarh also. The Haryana Janhit Congress is a non-starter and daily someone or the other is returning to the Congress fold. The INLD-BJP alliance is nowhere in the reckoning. Interestingly, several leaders and workers of these parties are joining us notable being former INLD MP Kailasho Saini and sitting BJP MLA Ram Kumar Gautam (who has resigned from the Assembly).