Former Finance Minister of Delhi and senior BJP leader Prof Jagdish Mukhi is a happy man after the results of Haryana Assembly polls were declared on Sunday. The former Finance Minister of Delhi and the frontrunner for the post of Chief Minister in Delhi after Dr Harsh Vardhan’s elevation as the Union Health Minister has been catapulted into prominence.
He sat in the selection process of the candidates along with the BJP president Amit Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The first-ever victory in the history of Haryana Assembly polls has given BJP a huge political boost in northern India. Riding high on Narendra Modi’s charisma and strong anti-Congress wave, the BJP won 47 seats in Haryana on Sunday. The BJP in Haryana went on polls without any alliance. The party had walked out of its alliance with Haryana Janhit Congress (HJC).
Talking to The Pioneer, Prof Mukhi gave the credit to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP national president Amit Shah and all senior party leaders who campaigned in Haryana during Assembly polls. “People of Haryana has reposed faith in Narendra Modi and his vision,” he said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had addressed 11 rallies in the State in the run-up to the October 15 polls while BJP national president Amit Shah addressed over dozen rallies, which helped BJP romp home comfortably.
Mukhi who himself hails from Sohna in Haryana, said that the party has been able to encash on Narendra Modi’s leadership in Haryana. “The party has learnt from the past experiences that alliance with Indian National lok Dal (INlD) was not in favour of BJP. That’s why the party went on polls without any alliance in 2009 and 2004 Assembly elections here. We focused on strengthening the party and rejuvenate party workers in Haryana,” said Mukhi, adding that the party has adopted three-tier strategy for Haryana polls and that included strengthening the organisation at all levels and turning the party into the public face. The election management included bringing more and more people to polling booth and impress the youth, especially the first-time voters of Haryana that BJP was a potent alternative.
The veteran BJP leader also praised all the senior party leaders and ministers who campaigned in Haryana polls. According to Mukhi, 37 Central Ministers campaigned in the State and party workers and leaders from Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi left no stone unturned to ensure the party’s victory in the State. In 2004, the BJP had managed only two seats while four in 2009 in Haryana. The performance of Mukhi in Haryana polls will certainly help him in Delhi’s political arena if the party decides to go for polls here.
Mukhi is considered close to RSS and is a strong contender for the post of Chief Minister after the elevation of Dr Harsh Vardhan as Union Health Minister. When asked about Delhi polls, the BJP leader said that the party leadership will decide soon after this verdict.
Mukhi was elected as the Member of Metropolitan Council, Delhi in January 1980. He was elected as a MlA from Janakpuri Assembly constituency in 1993 and in December 1993, he was appointed as the Finance Planning and Higher Education Minister. He became the leader of Opposition in Delhi Assembly in 1998. Mukhi had contested lok Sabha polls from West Delhi Parliamentary seat in 2009 but had lost to Congress leader Mahabal Mishra.