CONGRESS EYES VICTORY IN HARYANA

With the Bharatiya Janata Party, which has been power in Haryana for the past ten years, attempting to battle anti-incumbency as well as internal dissensions, the Congress is all set to wrest power in the State.

- PANKAJ VOHRA

In fact, the grand old party is perhaps for the first time, very well prepared, and unless the Saffron Brigade does something spectacular to retain its position, the Congress would go into the October 1 polls with a distinct advantage. To begin with, the High Command has more or less made it clear to various other state leaders, that the election would be fought under the overall captaincy of former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, and he shall be both the spearhead as well as the pivot of the campaign. On his part, Hooda in his various interviews has been reiterating that as per the Congress tradition, the next Chief Minister would be elected by the chosen MLAs, if his party wins, with the final approval of the top leadership. He has also been clearing the air about speculation surrounding his son, Deepender Singh Hooda, as the likely choice, by stating, that "I have neither retired nor am I tired". The BJP has many internal issues which need to be ironed out. For instance, former deputy CM, Anil Vij is brooding at being sidelined after the last reshuffle. Former party chief Ram Bilas Sharma feels marginalized. Captain Abhimanyu was hopeful that he would be given a Lok Sabha ticket but was overlooked. Supporters of Rao Inderjit, Union Minister of State, are unhappy why their leader has not been projected as the Chief minister despite his seniority. Kuldeep Bishnoi, son of former CM, Bhajan Lal, who had joined the Saffron Brigade after being disillusioned with the Congress, is miffed that instead of him, Ki