Despite a clear edge, Congress in Haryana may get a shock if 'internal squabbling' really works against itself

Ideally, the Congress should comfortably win a majority in Haryana. But the major irritant for its journey to return to power is the internal squabbling.

In broad sense, there are two-camps within the Congress - one the Bhupinder Singh Hooda camp and the other Randeep Singh Surjewala and Kumari Selja camp. But as the proverbial wheels within wheels; there are camps within camps.

One gets the glimpse of a clear division in the so-called perceived Surjewala-Kumari Selja camp in Narwana belt. Here this camp itself is vertically split between Surjewala camp and Kumari Selja camp. 

The grand old party's official candidate in Narwana - a known anti-BJP constituency is Satbir Dablain. 

Nagaland Congress leader Rajesh Sethi campaigning for party's Narwana segment candidate Satbir Dablain)

He was backed by Surjewala, a favourite of Rahul Gandhi and he could get the ticket by outsmarting a retired senior government employee Ishwar Singh. "I can confirm you that I did try for the Congress ticket and came very close.... But I am 200 per cent party loyalist," says Ishwar Singh, a former Chief Minister in the panchayat department. 

Reports of internal squabbling are heard even in Julana where the Congress presumes it has got a virtual walkover by fielding Vinesh Phogat. 

Truly, Ms Phogat's popularity among the Jats could help as the community accounts for 22-27 per cent of Haryana's population. A total of 37 seats in Haryana have more than 20 per cent Jat population. A total of 30 such seats are in the Rohtak and Hisar administrative divisions.  

But all that glitters may bot be gold. In Julana, sweet vendor Anil Kumar says - "The Congress is an image of corruption and failure while the road you just traveled to reach my village is the gift of the BJP government... There were no roads here". 

Ms Phogat : Popular Jat face and should work for Congress 'ideally'

The BJP has fielded Captain Yogesh Bairagi against Vinesh Phogat and the saffron party supporters feel the developmental plank along with the Hindutva push will work again on ground.  

Phogat, for whom an Olympics gold or silver was within the striking distance, was disqualified because she was overweight by 100 grams in the 50 kg weight category in which she was competing. Vinesh's maiden political battle from Julana is a high-stakes one, akin to her bouts at the Olympics so far.

Despite Vinesh's popularity among the Jats as well as farmers, women and the youth, the battle of Julana is far from a cakewalk. Julana is situated in Haryana's Jat-dominated Bangar region and has been a stronghold of regional parties such as the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) and Jannayak Janta Party (JJP). - 'Business Today'

The INLD and the JJP have held the seat for the past 15 years. 

INLD's Parminder Singh won from the assembly seat in 2009 and 2014 whereas JJP's Amarjeet Dhanda claimed it in 2019. Notably, the Congress lost the seat to the INLD 15 years ago as Congress' Sher Singh held the seat from 2000-2009.  

Even in Narwana, a prominent Jain Community leader says the Congress blundered by denying ticket to Ms Vidya Rani and now she is the JJP candidate against Satbir Dablain.  

Moreover, many BJP leaders said that people on the streets both in Julana and Narwana rural pockets speak highly of former Chief Minister Manohar lal Khattar, now Union Power Minister. 

There is another crucial aspect of Haryana polity vis-a-vis BJP prospects and challenges. 

The saffron party has never got high support from the Jat community in state polls, barring the aftermath of the Balakot airstrikes in 2019. 

Despite never getting support from the Jat community, the BJP has benefitted immensely from the Jat vote being divided between the Congress and Chautalas, the INLD and the JJP. 

Rajesh Sethi wooing women voters 

But Rajesh Sethi, a special observer appointed by the party high command, says: "The ongoing Election season has left the BJP traumatized in Haryana.... Weh log ghab raye hue hain".

Hopping from one hub of the busy township Narwana to the other where electioneering has picked up braving heat and dust of the political season, Sethi regrets, "It is sad Haryana moved backwards in the last 10 years under the BJP. The saffron party has lost the support base among youths for joblessness and among farmers for their highly controversial and confused agrarian policy".

Two-time former MLA from Narwana Prithi Singh Nambardar has quit the INLD and joined the BJP in presence of Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar.

Prithi was elected MLA on the INLD ticket first in 2009 and then in 2014 Assembly polls.

Khattar said former MLA and his supporters would be given due respect in the BJP.

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