The Unchallenged Hooda

During 10 years of his rule, Hooda made Rohtak, Sonipat, and Jhajjar his fortress.
(Image: @INCHaryana on Twitter) 

In 2005, a new page was added to the political history of Haryana when Bhupender Singh Hooda became the 9^th Chief Minister of the state. Son of a freedom fighter, Ranbir Singh, who was also the prominent face of political circles in Rohtak, also contested from Kiloi a couple of times. But Bhupinder didn’t get the state’s throne because of his family, he earned it.

While Hooda, who contested from Garhi Sampla-Kiloi, himself got 65.82 of vote share and won with 58074 votes, highest vote margin in the state. A month after factional changes, Congress performed well in the recently concluded elections winning 31  seats and getting 28.1 percent of vote share under the leadership of Kumari Selja and Hooda. Once again he is branded as an unchallenged Jat leader in the region.

Senior Journalist from Rohtak and author of book ‘Chaudhar ki Raajniti’, Dr. Satish Tyari is of the opinion that it is not tentative that a Jat leader will be accepted by both Deswali and Bagri belt of Rohtak and Hisar districts respectively.

Bhupinder Singh Hooda with his family and their father's portrait in the backdrop.
(Image: @DeependerSHooda on Twitter)

“When the people of Rohtak got an opportunity they defeated Devi Lal thrice (who was from Bagri belt). This is not usual. And then they preferred their own person (from Deswali): Bhupinder Singh Hooda,” Mr. Tyagi who has worked as a reporter for major Hindi newspaper in Rohtak, said in an interview. “Jats are sympathetic to him, especially of the Deswali belt. Many still regret that Deepender Hooda should have won. This wave in favor of Hooda was created after his losses. This election was a fight for existence for Hooda.”

Political analysts predicted a rise in Congress’ vote graph in last one week to polls. Tanwar’s removal may not be the reason but Hooda-Selja gave a tough fight without central leadership, analysts said.

“Congress was successful in ceasing BJP in turning this election as Modi V/S Sonia,” said Parveen Arora, a journalist with The Tribune. “This is one of the reasons why state leadership didn’t depend much on central leadership for campaigning.”

Absence of star campaigners that included chief ministers of congress-ruled states and a couple of rallies by Rahul Gandhi, gave Hooda more room to manifest his leadership in 47 days, since the removal of Tanwar. Congress candidates across the state campaigned and contested on their own.  

Rahul Gandhi addressed only two rallies in the state, the second one after his mother Sonia canceled the Mahendragarh rally reportedly due to corruption charges against the local candidate.
(Image: @INCHaryana on Twitter)

Political analyst and professor of political science at Karnal’s Dyal Singh College, Dr. Kushal Pal said, “During Devi Lal’s time, the core support base of INLD was peasantry, then Jats voted for INLD in times of Chautala and then enters Hooda that led to a division of votes. This time JJP  gained a handsome amount of Jat votes but they primarily voted for Hooda face.”

Mr. Tyagi also said, “Until Ashok Tanwar had the command, BJP was an unchallenged force but since Hooda got the command, he has challenged the ruling party. But his late entry, the loss in Lok Sabha elections in Sonipat and Rohtak (his son’s constituency), a message went that it is no more a stronghold of Hooda. But it has been changed now, thanks to Mr. Hooda.”