Rohtak MP Deepender Singh Hooda, the lone Congress candidate in Haryana who had withstood the Narendra Modi wave in 2014 Lok Sabha polls, faces an uphill task to maintain his winning streak in the ensuing polls.
Deepender, who has an impressive run on the political pitch with three consecutive election victories in Rohtak since his electoral debut, is seeking mandate for the fourth term with biggest challenges of anti-incumbency factor coupled with saffron surge in the state.
The three-time MP, however, is confidant of getting the support of people of Rohtak again.
“I have a connection with the people of Rohtak and have worked very hard for the development of my constituency. I am very hopeful to win the seat this time again,” says Deepender.
In the past five years, the ruling BJP has done its part to get better foothold in Rohtak, considered a citadel of Hooda clan and Deepender acknowledges the fact that he faces a tough electoral battle this time against the saffron party.
“The BJP is going full throttle in Rohtak… But, I welcome this challenge,” says Deepender, son of two-time former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda.
“I believe that it will be the result in Rohtak parliamentary seat that will give a political direction to the state in the upcoming Haryana Assembly polls. It will be a high-stake electoral fight in Rohtak,” he adds.
In 2014 general elections, Deepender was pitted against BJP’s nominee OP Dhankar (Cabinet Minister) in a tough contest but had managed to register a hat-trick by a margin of more than 1.7 lakh votes in the constituency.
However, the BJP had managed to win four out of nine assembly seats that form Rohtak parliamentary constituency in the State Assembly election held later in 2014. Buoyed by party’s recent victories in direct mayoral elections in Rohtak and Jind bypoll, the saffron party is now looking to wrest the Hooda’s bastion in 2019.
Be it Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s rally in Rohtak last year or Chief Minister Manohar Lal’s extensive campaigning, the top leadership is attempting to give a much-needed boost to BJP’s campaign in this constituency.
Rohtak district was the epicenter of violent Jat reservation stir 2016, which resulted in bitterly divided Haryana on caste lines and is seen as a major election issue in 2019 polls.
The Rohtak seat was won by late Ranbir Singh Hooda in 1952 and 1957. Later, his son former CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda won from the seat four times and since 2015, Deepender has carried forward the family legacy.
The prestigious poll battle in the hub of Jat electorate this time will see BJP, Congress, Indian National Lok Dal, Jannayak Janta Party among others in the poll fray.
On a multi-cornered fight in Haryana, Deepender says, “I see the battle as BJP Vs Congress… Hate Vs Hope. The Congress wants to give a viable and positive alternative to the BJP in this country.”
In an interview with The Pioneer, Deepender spoke on party’s strategy for polls, election agenda and other issues.
Excerpts from the interview
What would be Congress’ main election agenda?
Congress’ main election agenda would be exposing BJP which has resorted to politics of jhooth, phoot (falsehood and division) and loot in the last five years in the country. The BJP has failed to deliver on its poll promises. While nothing has happened on the ground, BJP continues with its jumlas (rhetoric). The ruling party has also continued with its agenda of dividing the people on the basis of caste and religion. This time, it’s an electoral battle of Hate (BJP) Vs Hope (Congress). Another agenda of the Congress is to provide a viable and positive alternative to the BJP in the country.
Rohtak is seen as a prestigious parliamentary seat in the Lok Sabha political battle. Stakes are high for both BJP and Congress for the contest on this seat. Does this put a pressure on you to win this seat for the fourth consecutive time?
I believe that it will be the result in Rohtak Lok Sabha seat that will give a political direction to the state in the upcoming assembly polls. The BJP is going full throttle in Rohtak and from the past few months, all their top leaders have mentioned my name and Rohtak constituency in their speeches at various events. Be it BJP chief Amit Shah, CM Manohar Lal, Union Minister Birender Singh, everyone is talking about Rohtak and me… So yes, they have made it a high-stake political battle in Rohtak… They see me as a potential threat in this fight. But, I welcome this challenge and very hopeful to win the Rohtak parliamentary seat for the fourth consecutive time.
How do you look at Congress’ prospects in general elections at national and the state level?
We are very hopeful that the Congress will perform well at the national level under the leadership of party president Rahul Gandhi. At the state level also, we hope to win all 10 Lok Sabha seats.
Congress is seen as a divided house in Haryana. A bus yatra was undertaken by Congress leaders to showcase the unity in the party state unit. Do you think that factionalism will affect Congress’ prospects in Haryana in general elections?
I hope that all organizational issues are sorted out in Haryana Congress unit. But, we are united to provide a good alternative to the people of the state. After the formation of coordination committee under former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, the party leaders have resolved to come together and ensure party’s win in the polls.
Haryana will witness a multi-cornered fight this time in polls. There is BJP, Congress, INLD, Jannayak Janta Party, Aam Aadmi party, Bahujan Samaj Party-Loktantra Suraksha Party in the fray. Who do you consider as your main challenger?
I think it will be BJP Vs Congress on all 10 Lok Sabha seats in Haryana. Other parties might be a challenge on one or two seats but it will be clear, only after the announcement of candidates.
How do you rate BJP’s performance in past five years at the national and state level?
The governments led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar have failed to deliver on the poll promises. The unemployment rate hit a 45-year high, there is dramatic rise in non-performing assets (NPAs), no debt relief was given to the farmers, fuel prices hit an all time high, vital institutions like CBI encroached upon by the BJP, in the last five years. In Haryana, the Manohar Lal Khattar has brought the state to the limelight for rise in crime against women, lawlessness, violence during reservation agitation 2016 and dera incident 2017. There were no big development projects, no investments made and no job creation during BJP’s tenure in the state. During Congress’ regime, Haryana was number one in terms of per capita income and per capita investment.
As an MP from Rohtak, how do you look at your performance in the past five years? If you could mention few of your achievements
I have worked hard for my constituency and remained accessible to the people for all 365 days every year. Rohtak is the only parliamentary constituency in the country to have all three prestigious institutes including IIT, AIIMS and IIM. Other main projects were Bahadurgarh Metro and completion of the National Cancer Institute at AIIMS, Jhajjar. The Nuclear energy project is another major project sanctioned for my constituency.
Anything which you wanted to do but could not in your constituency?
Unfortunately, the Meham airport project, which I had got sanctioned and approved in 2013 during UPA’s tenure was scrapped and shifted to Uttar Pradesh during NDA’s regime. After the Central Government decided to shift the airport project, even the BJP led Haryana Government did not support me at all. Apart from this, work did not begin on projects like National Cardiac Care Centre, National Institute of Genetic Care and others proposed in AIIMS Jhajjar, an extension of AIIMS New Delhi campus.
What will be your campaign strategy?
The campaign strategy has been made keeping in mind that the BJP has money, media and muscle power with them. I will be banking on my cadre. I alongwith my party workers have been campaigning extensively to expose the BJP’s lies. I have been Member Parliament from Rohtak from last 15 years and I feel I have a connection with the people of my constituency and will get their support again.
Your comments on opposition’s attack on you regarding dynasty politics
If you belong to a political background, it is a way to get your foot in the door. But after the beginning of my political career, I have won three elections so far and will now contest the fourth one. It is the people who have elected me… I will go to people again with my report card but not with the achievements of other people. It has always been their (people) choice to vote for me or not and they have always elected me for the development works I have done in my constituency. This time again, I will urge them to vote on my achievements and not because of my association with a political family.