Chandigarh, October 17
It’s a leisurely morning with Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda skipping through newspapers at his official residence from where he has run the Haryana Government for the past decade. For someone who usually finishes a game of tennis by 8 am each day, he is still in his pyjamas at 9 am. He has decided to take it easy till October 19 when the Assembly poll results will be out.

Sipping black tea and glancing through newspapers, he pauses wherever there is something positive in terms of outcome for the incumbent government. He reads it out to the visitors who have dropped by to know if Hooda agrees with exit polls. Despite a dismal scenario painted for the Congress across the media coverage, Hooda has not lost hope. He insists the exit polls will be proved wrong. However, he admits “Modi ka bukhar abhi utra nahin (Modi fever has not receded yet in the state).”

Till the polling day, the Congress leadership was confident of returning to power. It is only after the exit poll predictions that the party went into brainstorming and the reality began to sink in. Before any further discussion on the results takes place, one of the visitors relaxing in the porch of the CM’s residence questions: “Who can be the next CM from the BJP if the exit polls prove correct?”

“OP Dhankar,” says one. “No, it will be either Sushma Swaraj or ML Khattar,” says another. The BJP will go with a non-Jat leader, says an MLA who is hoping to get “one of the eight sure seats” the Congress is counting. Hooda interjects to say: “Bhai result to aane do. The BJP appears to have done well, but stop forming a government before Sunday.” The accuracy of these exit polls will only be known when the results are declared on October 19 but the Hooda loyalists’mood in the lawns of his residence does not evoke much confidence.

Congress leaders begin to count various factors that have caused a setback to the party. Support of the Dera Sucha Sauda to the BJP tops it all, followed by the selection of candidates. The CM wanted at least one-third of the sitting MLAs changed, but political pressures and “insider war” did not let that happen and it is bound to be reflected in the results. “Modi campaigned extensively, holding a dozen-odd rallies in Haryana as if he were the chief ministerial aspirant here,” says another leader.

Reacting to the conversation, Hooda says: “The poll was held peacefully. I am thankful to the people for this. Whatever is in store for us, we will accept it gracefully. But I only hope that whoever forms the government does not retard the pace of development. It was not only an election slogan but Haryana has actually become number one on almost all parameters of development. People have a lot of expectations and hope from the NDA government as Modi has ‘sold dreams’. It is after a year that the reality will become apparent.”

None now questions that the BJP is headed to become the single largest party . But there is a debate on whether it would be in a position to form the government on its own. “If the Congress and the INLD together get under 40 seats, the BJP is headed for an absolute majority”, says a close aide of the Chief Minister. In the subsequent conversations, it comes to light that several top leaders like Phool Chand Mullana and Harmohinder Singh Chattha have conceded that the contest has been tougher than what they had expected.

Rewari, October 16
Haryana Irrigation Minister Capt Ajay Yadav has held Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda responsible for the possible dismal performance of the party in the Assembly elections. The results will be declared on October 19.

He said centralisation of power, and discrimination in development and government jobs made people vote against the Congress. “In the past decade, only one man (Hooda) used to take all decisions in the party and others were made to follow suit. Transfers were made centralised and the government jobs were confined to merely two districts,” the Congress nominee from Rewari told The Tribune today.

He admitted that like other parts in the state, the Congress’ performance would be poor in the Ahirwal region as well. “The Congress may have formed the government for the third time consecutively if the region would not have been discriminated against in terms of jobs,” the Ahir leader said, adding that this was the main factor that sparked anger among people and so they voted against the Congress.

Capt Yadav suggested to the Congress leadership to adopt a concept of elected leadership to strengthen the cadre and improve its performance in the state in the future. “I was almost a non-entity in the Cabinet in spite of being the senior most leader in the party. Hooda kept the party in his pocket throughout his two tenures.”

Besides, he said, several defections in the run up to the elections affected the party adversely. The Congress leader predicted a hung Assembly.

Sirsa, October 17
Bookies are predicting advantage BJP and a severe drubbing for the Congress in Haryana this time.

They are giving 43-44 seats to the BJP, 27-28 to the INLD, 11-12 to the Congress and 4-5 to the Haryana Janhit Congress-Haryana Janchetna Party alliance.

This is how it works: If a person has to bet on the BJP’s seat tally, he has either to bet that BJP will not reach a tally of 43 seats or he will bet that the party would get 44 or even more seats. The satta bazaar operates on the rule that the lower the rates of a candidate, the higher his chances of victory.

Bookies consider the victory of candidates like Naina Chautala (Dabwali), Bhupinder Singh Hooda (Garhi Sampla-Kiloi), Renuka Bishnoi (Hansi) and Kiran Chaudry (Tosham) a foregone conclusion and are not accepting offers for these seats.

Although some exit polls are predicting a tough contest at Ellenabad where senior INLD leader Abhay Chautala is in fray, his rates are hovering at 55 to 65 paise. The bookies will pay Rs 55,000 for every Rs 1 lakh betted on him if he wins, while on a bet of Rs 65000 for his defeat, the former will pay Rs 1 lakh.

In Sirsa, where ex-minister Gopal Kanda was a favourable bet, his rate has plummeted from 90 paisa to Rs 3. Similarly, Sunita Setia (BJP), whose rate hovered at Rs 6 during the campaign, has crashed to Rs 3. The INLD has rates of 80-90 paisa at Rania, Fatehabad, Ratia and Tohana segments.

Chandigarh, October 17
With winds of change blowing over Haryana’s political horizon in the wake of the October 15 Assembly polls and possibility of a non-Congress government, the Haryana Civil Secretariat is getting ready for the new dispensation.

The Congress ministers have started vacating their offices, paving the way for the new incumbents. Some of the personal and official records had already been taken away by the outgoing ministers, indicating that they see no possibility of the Congress returning to power.

There was continuity in the policies and the government functioning as the Congress government was in office for nearly a decade. The Hooda Government completes its second five year tenure on October 27.

A visit to the Secretariat today revealed that officials of the Public Works Department (PWD) had started renovating the ministers’ offices. “The offices will get a fresh coat of paint and furniture of some offices will be changed before Diwali,” a PWD official told The Tribune.

The offices being readied for the new incumbents included those on the fourth floor, which houses the offices of the CM and his staff, and those on the sixth and the eighth floors.

“The intervening time between the old and new government gives us time to do minor repairs, white washing and change furniture in ministers’ offices,” an official who inspected the offices said.

Karnal, October 17
Candidates of all Assembly segments are keeping their fingers crossed and are speculative about their win. They are also worried about the heavy turnout of voters compared to the last Assembly poll and the parliamentary elections held earlier this year.

Even though almost all exit poll has predicted a landslide victory for the BJP, some candidates have termed the exit poll as baseless.

INLD candidate from the Karnal seat Manoj Wadhwa said the INLD would form the government as the people of the state wanted the INLD government.

Surinder Narwal, Congress candidate from Karnal, said, “I have done my bit and it is time to wait. I feel it will be a close contest.”

Narinder Sanwan, INLD candidate from Gharaunda said high turnout always indicated change, which would reflect in the result on October 19. “Exit polls are baseless. You cannot always predict what is on the voters’ mind,” he said.

Sirsa, October 17
Amid several names doing the rounds for the post of Chief Minister in the BJP, the name of Dr Anil Jain, national secretary of the party and in charge of party affairs in Haryana, may emerge as a unanimous choice.

Ganeshi Lal, a former Haryana minister, confirmed that the name of Dr Jain, who is responsible for micro management of election affairs in the state, was being considered for the top post.

“Dr Jain knows the pulse of Haryana and has able to steer the party’s ship through state politics,” Ganeshi Lal said.

Ganeshi Lal, a minister in the Bansi Lal Cabinet from 1996 to 1999, was instrumental in roping in several leaders like Sunita Setia and Swatantar Bala Chaudhary in the current elections.

Ganeshi Lal said various exit polls had been predicting a BJP government in Haryana.

Sirsa, October 17
The police have booked BJP's Sirsa nominee Sunita Setia's son Gokul Setia and nearly 15 others on the charge of attempt to murder in a case of firing at Modia Khera village in the district during polling on October 15.

A case under the Representation of People's Act and the Arms Act has also been registered against them. The case was registered on a complaint of INLD supporter Sandeep of Modia Khera village. He was injured in the firing by a BJP supporter accompanying Gokul at Modia Khera during polling, police sources said.

In his complaint lodged with the Sadar police station, Sandeep accused Gokul, Anmol Sodhi, Munna and 10 to 15 others of trying to tamper with EVMs and firing at him when he stopped them from doing it. Sandeep alleged that Gokul and others injured another INLD supporter Brij Lal of Mehna Khera village.

Panipat, October 17
The counting process will be video graphed at four centres of the district on Sunday.

DC- cum- District Election Officer Ajit Balaji Joshi said that the counting will start on at eight am while the agents of the candidates should be in their seats by 7.30 am.

No agent will be allowed to take any inflammable objects, including a lighter and match box, cigarette, bidi, mobile, watch, pen, pencil or paper in the counting centre. Writing pads and pencisl would be provided to the agents inside the centres, he said.

If any agent is found having a criminal background, he or she would not be allowed to entry to the vote counting venues, he added.

Counting will be held in 13 rounds for 189 EVMs for the Panipat Rural Assembly, in 12 rounds for 179 EVMs for Panipat City, in 11 rounds for 167 EVMs for Israna (SC) and in 12 rounds for 179 EVMs for the Samalkha Assembly segment.

Any additional round of counting will start after consent by all the candidates and their agents, he informed.

Chandigarh, October 17
Following complaints of bogus voting, the Election Commission has ordered a repoll in five booths of the Firozepur Jhirka assembly segment tomorrow.

A press note stated here today that the repoll would be held in Government Primary School, Mahammed Bas (polling station No 91), Government High School, Neemkhera(polling station No 101), Government Senior Secondary Schools, Badedh (polling station No 102), Government Middle School, Tigaon (polling station No 107) and Government Middle School, Tigaon (polling station No 108).

The model code of conduct will remain in force in Mewat district due to the repoll. Polling would be from 7 am to 6 pm.

Gurgaon, October 17
The police today arrested three persons accused of assaulting two northeastern youths in the city’s Sikanderpur area Wednesday night. The police have also confirmed that the attacks had an element of ethnic bias.

The accused have been Gaurav Yadav, Ram Bihari and Vijay Kumar — all local residents. They were also involved in racist crime in March.

“The main accused, Gaurav, has two cases already registered against him. We believe it’s a case of ethnic bias and discrimination,” said Nazneen Bhasin, DCP, Gurgaon East.

Two youths from Nagaland — Aloto Chishti and Awang Newmei — were brutally assaulted on Wednesday. They were admitted to the Civil Hospital. One of them was shifted to Safdurganj hospital.

The police said the accused had confessed to their crime. “They told the police that they accosted the north-eastern youths when they were returning to their home. The two groups argued over some matter, following which the accused took them to a room and forced them to have liquor. When they refused, the accused hit them with hockey sticks. Newmei’s hair were shaved off,” an official said.

The arrests may have pacified the north-eastern community for a while, but they feel the malaise is deep-rooted. “It’s a routine. The authorities act only after we have suffered enough. We want the government to stop its recurrence,” said a victim’s relative.

Tension grips the Sikanderpur area, as residents have asked N-E tenants to leave the area. AAP leader Yogendra Yadav has offered to mediate between the two warring groups. “It is no political endeavor but I have urged representatives of both parties to resolve the issue. I have offered to be neutral mediator,” said Yadav during a visit here.

“We have put up a permanent post to instill confidence among the northeastern residents. We will also increase night patrolling,” DCP Bhasin said.

Sonepat, October 17
Three members of a family committed suicide by hanging themselves from a roof-fan at their house in the Housing Board Colony of HUDA’s Sector 23, today.

A person known to the family visited the house in the morning to meet Jagbir (one of the deceased). When no one opened the door, he informed the police.

The police reached the spot and broke open the door to find Jagbir (48), his wife Sudesh (45) and daughter Priyanka (22), hanging from the ceiling fan.

After preliminary investigations conducted by the forensic team, the bodies were taken to the civil hospital for the post-mortem examination.

On the complaint of Jagbir’s son, Ajai, a case has been registered under the IPC against five women: Simmi, Neelam, Mukesh, Renu and Bala, who reside in the neighbourhood and had gone missing since the last few days.

In his complaint, Ajai alleged his mother used to run a committee and the women had eloped after taking the committee’s amount of Rs 40 lakh.

The members of the committee had been demanding their contribution back from his family and this situation resulted in them committing suicide.

The victims originally belonged to Purkhas village and had been residing at the Housing Board Colony for the last two years.

Jagbir was serving as a manager in a private company at Kundli while Ajai takes tuition in Delhi.

Karnal, October 17
Family members of liquor vendor Dilbag (46) of Nalikhurd village who was lynched to death at his liquor shop in Sandhir village some days ago blocked the city’s Hospital Chowk for nearly three-hours with hundreds of people.

Protesters raised slogan against the police and threatened to launch a stir if the accused were not arrested, while Dilbag’s wife, Renu, threatened to commit suicide. Police officials including DSP (HQ) Satish Kumar and DSP (Indri) Baljinder Singh tried to pacify them, but they continued to block the road.

Renu alleged her husband was lynched to death at his liquor shop by a group of people that included Naresh, Suresh alias Babli of Anjanthali village, Suba of Taraori and six others. Superintendent of Police Abhishek Garg assured us the accused would be arrested, but they are still at large.

Chandigarh, October 17
The Haryana Government has placed the services of Yudhvir Malik, Additional Chief Secretary, Industries and Commerce, Mines and Geology and Electronics and IT Department, at the disposal of the Centre for appointment as Chief Executive Officer, Food Safety and Standard Authority of India, Department of Health and Family Welfare, New Delhi, with immediate effect.

Similarly, the services of Surina Rajan, Additional Chief Secretary, School Education Department and chairperson, Haryana Minerals Limited, New Delhi, have also been placed at the disposal of the Centre for appointment as Joint Secretary, Department of Defence, New Delhi.

Karnal, October 17
To spread the message of cultural harmony and national integrity, artists from various states of the country and Japan, participating in international cultural event ‘Harmony-2014’, today took out a cultural procession here.

The event is being organised by the National Integrated Forum of Artists and Activists.

Artists from Japan and 19 states of India, including Assam, Nagaland, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Maharashtra and Arunachal Pradesh, assembled at Gurdwara Dera Kar Sewa, where Additional Deputy Commissioner Girish Arora flagged off the procession.

The procession passed through various parts of the city before ending at the Sector 12 HUDA ground, where the nine-day ‘Harmony 2014’ is being held. NIFFA president Pritpal Singh Pannu said the event would end on October 19.