Haryana Diary: Hints of next political move
Youth leader Sonia Doohan, a resident of Petwar village of Hisar district, who was one of the aspirants to a Congress ticket in the recent Assembly elections, has uploaded a video in which she is performing aarti of the NCP (Ajit Pawar) leader Ajit Pawar in Maharashtra after the victory of BJP-led Mahayuti alliance in the Assembly elections. Doohan got associated with NCP (Sharad Pawar) about three years ago as a student wing leader in Maharashtra. She later met Congress leader Rahul Gandhi aspiring to get a ticket from the Narnaund Assembly segment. Now, her latest video on her social media X account has given hints of her next political move.
‘Mujko bhi to lift kara de’ barb
The elevator at BJP’s state-of-the-art office in Panchkula works at its own whims and fancies. The ‘moody’ elevator was in the spotlight when state minister Shyam Singh Rana was stuck in it for about 20 minutes recently. BJP insiders confide while the party spent crores of rupees on constructing the palatial building, no thought was spared on installing a good quality elevator. Many senior party leaders, including previous ‘victims’ — ex-chief OP Dhankar, former Speaker Gian Chand Gupta and Panchkula Mayor Kulbhushan Goyal — avoid the elevator even if they have to attend a meeting on the top floor. One of the BJP leaders was jokingly heard humming Pakistani singer Adnan Sami’s hit number ‘mujko bhi to lift kara de’ when a 70+ leader came to use the erratic elevator.
New ministers’ residences full of activity
Induction of three MLAs from Faridabad and Palwal districts as ministers seems to have come as relief for many in matters of taking up the grievances which needed the intervention of ministers or senior leaders. The residents who approached Union Minister of State and local MP Krishan Pal Gurjar for resolution of their issues earlier, are now taking up their problems with ministers in the Saini cabinet — Vipul Goel from Faridabad, Rajesh Nagar from Tigaon and Guarav Gautam from Palwa. It has decentralised authority in these two districts, according to some of the political activists. It has lead to hightened activity at the residences of the new ministers which may not have been possible if they had been the MLAs only, it is believed.
Many contenders for Mayor’s post
The tenure of Municipal Corporation Yamunanagar-Jagadhri came to an end in January. Leaders willing to contest the election are eagerly awaiting the announcement of the election. Ever since the BJP state president Pandit Mohan Lal Badoli announced at a programme in Jagadhri recently that MC election would be held soon, activities for the MC election have intensified. Leaders have started holding meetings with their supporters. This time the list of contenders for the post of Mayor is said to be quite long in both the BJP and Congress.
Opposition leaders shy away
While Gurugram residents are dissatisfied with the BJP MLA’s indifference to the city’s civic and pollution mess, what is adding to their woes is the lack of any Opposition voice. The residents are approaching Congress candidates who lost in Vidhan Sabha elections but majority have refused to go public on these issues. These candidates have reportedly been asked by state units to lie low till the Leader of Opposition is not finalised.
