Apart from other pertinent issues like corruption and rising inflation, ‘Chaudhar’ (supremacy) has yet again surfaced as a vital poll issue in Rohtak parliamentary constituency as it is being prominently raised by Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) candidate and farmers’ leader, Om Prakash Dhankar, during his poll campaigning.
Interestingly, it is the same issue which was raised by Congress party in the constituency from 1996 to 2004 lok Sabha polls to garner the support of local people who also responded in favour of the Congress nominee every time except 1999 polls as the locals felt ‘ignored’ in terms of development and wished their ‘Chaudhar’ in the State Government.
No one can argue the fact that the issue had played a decisive role in the victory of the then Congress nominee and present Chief Minister, Bhupinder Singh Hooda, in three lok Sabha elections held in 1996, 1998 and 2004. However, it failed to work in 1999 polls due to Kargil wave in favour of BJP. The issue became secondary and dispensable in the constituency after 2004 when Bhupinder Singh Hooda-led Congress Government took over the reins of Haryana in 2005.
Ever since, two lok Sabha polls (2005 bypoll and 2009) have so far been conducted wherein Congress nominee Deepender Hooda sought votes for development and romped home victorious both the times. This time too, Deepender is in the poll fray as Congress candidate and is again seeking vote and support from locals in the name of development works carried out by him in the constituency during his successive stints.But, the issue of ‘Chaudhar’ has been resurfaced by the BJP candidate Om Prakash Dhankar in the ongoing poll season. He has promised to maintain ‘Chaudhar’ of people of this area stating that the public has made up their mind to hand over the reins of nation to Narendra Modi in the approaching polls.
“When Narendra Modi is going to become next Prime Minister of India with the blessing of people then why should Rohtak remain deprived of powerIJ Since I am the representative of Modi in Rohtak hence, will maintain this ‘Chaudhar’ as usual if you (people) shower their blessing on me in the polls,” stated Dhankhar in his public meetings.