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Article 370, Modi take a backseat in Haryana elections as jobs, caste dominate poll scene

Voters are now looking beyond PM Modi's image to carefully consider between CM Khattar's administrative policies and the state's regional satraps.

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Rohtak/Bhiwani/Dadri/Hisar: Jatin Taneja, a 17-year-old from Bhiwani, is not eligible to vote in the Haryana assembly elections on 21 October. But there is little doubt in the teenager’s mind about who he would have chosen — Kiran Choudhry.

The incumbent Congress legislator from Tosham, Taneja feels, has done good work in the assembly segment.

His family, however, doesn’t feel that way. They, he says, will vote en masse for the BJP candidate contesting the election under the leadership of incumbent Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar. Why? “Punjabi hain, Punjabion ki help kar rahe hain,” Taneja told ThePrint.

The Taneja family’s voting preferences highlight two crucial facets about the Haryana elections, distinguishing it from the 2014 polls. While there is a focus on local politics this time around, a caste consolidation in favour of the BJP led by CM Khattar exists too.

In the Lok Sabha and assembly polls of 2014, and the general elections of 2019, the ‘Modi wave’ had swept through the state, leaving bread and butter issues and caste arithmetic mostly irrelevant. Voters are now looking beyond Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s image to carefully consider between Khattar’s administrative policies and the state’s regional satraps.

Not surprising then that BJP’s efforts at making Article 370 a key poll topic has gained little traction.


Also read: Why some Haryana Congress leaders don’t want Sonia Gandhi to campaign for this candidate


Caste conundrum and jobs

In the 2014 assembly polls and the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP had managed to break the Jat stranglehold on Haryana politics by getting other communities to rally behind it. While the prime minister still holds sway in many hearts, his popularity seems to have taken a back seat this election.

In Rohtak, a predominantly Jat constituency, former chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda has managed to regain some lost ground. At several pockets, especially in the akharas of the district, many are likely to choose Hooda over Khattar.

However, Hooda’s success is less likely to be able to counter Khattar’s ‘clean reputation’. Even in Hooda’s bastion Kiloi, where he is the incumbent MLA, a similar sentiment is echoed by the Dalits.

Bachchi Chamar, a resident of Kiloi village in Rohtak district, claimed the former CM hadn’t done much for the community. “The land I was allotted was also taken away.”

Another Kiloi resident Ram Gaj, a farmer, said, “I will vote for Satish Nandal (BJP candidate). Hooda has worked in Kiloi, but only for certain communities.”

But Kiloi has a population of over 50 per cent Jats, and Hooda can bank on them for an easy win.

Congress MLA Kiran Chaudhry’s pocketborough Tosham is similarly heading for a tough fight. While the Jats are backing her strongly, owing to the legacy of her father-in-law and former CM Bansi Lal, Choudhry faces an uphill task to get support of the non-Jats.

Pawan Kumar, a 34-year-old store attendant in Tosham, believes the Khattar government has increased opportunities for various sections of society. “Earlier, only Jats would get jobs. Now, people from my community (Dalits) are also equally considered. Many in my village have also been allotted plots,” he said.

Rajendra Singh, 21, who owns a mobile accessories store in the town, said many in his extended family got government jobs after decades. “The Khattar government has reduced corruption, one no longer needs to bribe people to get jobs.”

In Charkhi Dadri again, an Armyman feels his obvious choice lies with his peer — Congress candidate Major Nripendra Sangwan. But this assembly segment is looking at a four-pronged battle as Jannayak Janata Party (JJP) has fielded a former Congress legislator, Satpal Sangwan, while former BJP legislator Somveer Sangwan is also contesting under a different banner.

There is BJP candidate and wrestler Babita Phogat too from the district. These crossovers have left the electorate split, with many swaying in favour of the candidate instead of the party.

Bhiwani, on the other hand, continues to be under Modi’s spell with many asserting that the prime minister was the reason for a slew of changes across the country. “The PM has changed the national landscape. He is a true patriot,” said Bhoru Singh, 66, who drives a pick-up truck. “He has purchased Army fighters and eliminated corruption.”

Some even see Modi and Khattar as equals under the BJP banner. “Khattar is honest, as is Modi,” said Lokesh Saini, 35, who owns a small clothing store. “I will vote for the BJP.”

In Congress leader Kuldeep Bishnoi’s citadel Adampur, his non-Jat lineage is working in his favour. Most of the people ThePrint spoke to identified with the local leader, whether or not they belonged to the same community as him.

“There is no candidate other than Bishnoi here,” said Jai Singh, a 35-year-old mechanic from Adampur. “Sonali Phogat only looks good in TikTok videos.”

Sanjay Thackeray, a 26-year-old Rajput painter, also backed the Bishnoi clan, as did Sandeep Kumar (Ahir) who works with a housing loan company.

Rajiv Kumar, a 27-year-old Dalit who runs a juice shop, said, “Bishnoi has worked for us, I voted for Modi in the Lok Sabha elections but this one is about local issues.”


Also read: ‘Dead mouse’ & Pakistan potshots: Haryana poll candidates take mud-slinging to new low


Article 370 not relevant to Haryana

While Modi continues to have a dedicated following that hails his move to revoke Jammu and Kashmir’s special status, many in the constituencies which ThePrint visited feel the move doesn’t concern the state of Haryana.

Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah have time and again pitched the government’s decision to scrap Article 370 to woo voters in the state. Amar Singh, a 56-year-old farmer from Adampur (Congress candidate Kuldeep Bishnoi’s bastion), told ThePrint, “It’s a good thing they’ve done it, they should have done it earlier. But it concerns the people of J&K. Why should it impact the Haryana elections?”

“We have already voted for Modi at the national level,” said 22-year-old Prashant Verma who runs a medical store in Charkhi Dadri. “This time our focus is on local issues. Somveer Sangwan has worked for our constituency,” he said.

While many are vouching for Khattar’s clean image, several others have also raised doubts about his administrative policies. Rajpal Swami, 35, a roadside stall owner in Bhiwani, said he was fed up of the BJP government in the state. Modi’s move to revoke Article 370 will have “no visible impact” in Haryana, he said.

Modi’s supporters, however, continue to assert the importance of Article 370 in the state. “Of course it will make a difference,” said 30-year-old Gangaram, who sells gol gappe in Bhiwani. “It directly impacts Haryana as we can now migrate to Kashmir and get jobs there.”


Also read: Where has Congress gone — Ahmed Patel asks Hooda in viral video ahead of Haryana polls


 

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3 COMMENTS

  1. Yet another day dreamer😀😀
    This die hard fan of congress author has gone in to a state of coma.
    Wake up buddy, even your leaders have given up.
    It’s not about the loss of congress, a long foregone conclusion
    It’s about total decimation.
    How are u going to deal come Oct24.
    Rahul will leave India Oct 20.is he going to buy you and Gupta and the other chumchas of print a free ride too?

  2. Only yesterday you wrote, “Congress’ last-ditch effort in Haryana hits stumbling block — Rahul Gandhi’s image”, meaning people wouldn’t vote for congress candidates because they don’t like Rahul’s image. Today you say, “Article 370, Modi take a backseat in Haryana elections as jobs, caste dominate poll scene, and that there are those who would like to vote for congress candidates! So, did the Rahul image improved in just one day?

  3. If Article 370 was a winning card, it has been played too soon. Sustaining high popularity ratings for the next five years amidst economic hardship will be difficult.

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