Among 10 Lok Sabha seats in Haryana, Sonepat and Rohtak are drawing up a lot of attention.
At stake is the political future of two-time former chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, who is a candidate from Sonepat, and his son Deepender Hooda, who is in the fray for a fourth straight victory.
For the father and son, it’s a battle to regain their raj (power) in Haryana.
Haryana goes to polls within six months after Lok Sabha polls.
Bhupinder Singh Hooda is up against sitting Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Ramesh Kaushik who is banking on Modi magic and no-Jat votes. Om Prakash Chautala’s grandson Digvijay Chautala is also in the fray and is likely to split Jat votes.
“Result of my victory will decide the fate of next elections. Remember, if you vote and support me here, the days are not far that you will see our government in the state as well,” Bhupinder Singh Hooda said while addressing crowd assembled in Asan village in Jind district.
Riding on his election bus through the dusty roads in the villages, Bhupinder Singh Hooda told India Today TV, “All this talk of Jat vs non-Jat is rubbish, you can see I am getting support from all the communities.”
In Rohtak constituency, Deepender Hooda is fighting for a fourth straight victory.
Deepender Hooda won the seat last time despite being bedridden due to slipped disc problem.
This time, there’s no let up by the BJP to undo the loss of 2014, BJP president Amit shah camped in Rohtak for three days to strategise campaign.
Deepender Hooda is banking on development work carried out during his father’s tenure as the chief minister.
As Deepender Hooda addresses a public gathering in Meham locality, he lists out the development work carried out by him when United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government was in power.
Deepender Hooda alleged that an international airport coming up near Jewar in Uttar Pradesh was initially planned for Meham.
“When the BJP won UP, it took away the project from Haryana, worse is that the MPs of ruling party from the state didn’t even take up the matter with their central leadership,” Deepender Hooda alleged.
“Countdown for the exit of BJP government will begin from the day you elect me as your MP from Rohtak,” Deepender Hooda said.
As Deepender Hooda said this, he was well aware of the fact that no MP has won this seat four times in a row.