Both BJP and Congress are tied after the litmus test bypoll in Haryana, Rajasthan
The byelections in Rajasthan and Haryana, by virtue of their proximity to the general elections, became a litmus test for the on-ground popularity of the two national parties, the BJP and the Congress. So Jind in Haryana, which fell vacant following the death of two-time BJP lawmaker Hari Chand Middha, became a challenge for the Manohar Lal Khattar government, considering it would be seen against the backdrop of the BJP losses in the last round of Assembly elections in the heartland states. But Khattar seems to have bucked the trend in this seat at least despite heading a ringside State. Perhaps, the BJP win here has to do with the fact that the party candidate was Middha’s son Krishna, who has benefitted from a residual loyalty. But it has a lot to do with the Opposition fielding bigwigs like Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala and the INLD breakaway Jannayak Janata Party (JJP) leader Digvijay Chautala, both of whom split the votepie to the BJP’s advantage. Though Surjewala is already Kaithal MLA, this was a prestige fight for him, considering his national profile and closeness to the high command. However, he put up a dismal show by coming in third, his “outsider” tag becoming his Achilles heel. Digvijay Chautala, in fact, put up a creditable fight, leading the initial rounds of counting. With this performance, the JJP, which has declared equidistance from both national parties, could emerge as an ally for any coalition that pursues it. So relieved was the BJP by its landslide victory in the bypoll that Khattar immediately expressed confidence of winning all 10 Lok Sabha seats in Haryana.
Meanwhile, the Congress, despite the Surjewala debacle, can draw huge comfort from its outing in Rajasthan’s Ramgarh. The convincing margin proves that its comeback in Rajasthan was not a seasonal fling but that the people are still invested in it. The Congress could push its tally to the halfway mark of 100 in the 200-member Assembly, thereby reclaiming a psychological edge and reducing its dependence on smaller parties. Ramgarh was also a bellwether seat, considering it saw a polarised campaign following incidents of cow vigilantism and the lynching of Rakbar Khan. Clearly, the communal card didn’t work at all. Of course, the BJP would not admit that it failed to consolidate the Hindu vote despite a context and blamed its defeat on the BSP candidate and its rebel Jagat Singh, the son of former Congress leader Natwar Singh, as cutting into its votes. For his unfazed demeanour, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot did betray some emotion when he said, “People have given a message at a time when it was much needed. It will encourage the party ahead of Lok Sabha election.” One thing is sure, the contest is still on needle point and no amount of propaganda will work in shaping perceptions unless you are solid on the ground.