The Hindu : Other States / Haryana News : Voters campaigning for Hooda

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, May 31, 2005

Other States

Other States - Haryana

Voters campaigning for Hooda

Rajesh Ahuja

"We are wholeheartedly campaigning for Bhuppi Bhai Sahib and we do not need any outside support. We will see to it that he gets elected from here"

KILOI (ROHTAK): It is perhaps for the first time that a Vidhan Sabha by-election is being fought by the voters themselves instead of the candidate just to keep high the "chaudhar'' (prestige) of Rohtak.

And the candidate is none other than the Haryana Chief Minister, Bhupinder Singh Hooda, who is contesting once again from his traditional constituency of Kiloi.

At present a sitting Member of Parliament from Rohtak, Mr. Hooda, who became Chief Minister on March 5, has to enter the State Assembly within six months.

Unlike the previous polls, Mr. Hooda is not visiting the constituency to campaign for himself. He will come here on June 2 to cast his vote.

What is unique is that his door-to-door campaigning is being conducted by the voters, mostly villagers, a few family members and friends sans the usual hustle and bustle associated with the elections.

There are no rallies and meetings in the conventional sense with a large fleet of vehicles carrying the party workers whizzing by. Also missing are the usual posters, banners and party flags.

In fact, the residents of this area, mostly belonging to the Jat community, feel it a matter of pride to send their son of soil to the State Assembly with a resounding victory margin.

Any party leader or worker who goes to the constituency is offered "lassi'' to beat the heat and politely told in rustic Haryanvi: "We are wholeheartedly campaigning for Bhuppi Bhai Sahib and we do not need any outside support. We will see to it that our Chief Minister gets elected from here with an unbeatable victory margin.''

They are also appreciative of Sri Krishan Hooda who relinquished the Kiloi Assembly seat for Mr.Hooda.

The Excise and Taxation Minister, Venod Sharma, who is camping in Rohtak for the last few days meeting the party workers and voters alike, is impressed not only by the hospitality but also by the dedication of the voters to campaign for Mr. Hooda voluntarily.

In an interview, Mr. Sharma said that it is perhaps unique that there is hardly any opposition worth the name. The BJP nominee, Ram Bhaj Hooda, who withdrew from the contest, is actively supporting

Mr. Hooda. The Indian National Lok Dal candidate, Azad Singh Attri, is a virtual tyro and campaigning by the INLD Secretary-General, Ajay Singh Chautala, has failed to make any dent into the overwhelming support for Mr.Hooda, he asserts.

Interestingly, the INLD Secretary-General had claimed that a heavyweight candidate would be fielded who would make Mr. Hooda seek votes from each household in the constituency. However, these claims have proved hollow, a close aide of Mr.Hooda pointed out.

Besides Mr.Sharma, the Health Minister, Kartar Devi, and other party leaders have also visited Kiloi.

Since the verdict is clear here, several partymen are now actively campaigning for the nominees in Hissar and Tosham.

An old farmer who has seen several elections in the Rohtak belt compared the style of functioning of Mr.Hooda with that of his predecessors.

He recalled that there had been mayhem and violence when Mr.Chautala had contested the Assembly election from Meham a few decades ago. Not only this, there was absolute misuse of official machinery during that time, he added.

"Now, the scenario is entirely different and the change is refreshing,'' he commented.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Other States

News Update

Stories in this Section

Voters campaigning for Hooda

Haryana reshuffle