To beat anti-incumbency, BJP to target Congress’s ‘baap-beta’ in Haryana Assembly polls

Pradeep Sharma

Chandigarh, July 14

In a bid to beat anti-incumbency in the upcoming Assembly elections, the BJP is set to target Congress’ dynastic politics, especially ‘baap-beta’, an obvious reference to former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and his MP son Deepender Hooda.

The issue of targeting ‘baap-beta’ for their various acts of omission and commission during Hooda’s 10-year regime from 2004-2014 was among a range of issues discussed at a meeting of the BJP’s core committee attended by party’s top brass here.

Prominent among those who attended the meeting included Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, Union Minister of State Krishan Pal Gurjar, state minister Kanwar Pal Gujjar, Haryana BJP chief Mohan Lal Badoli, former ministers Anil Vij, Capt Abhimanyu and OP Dhankar, and Haryana state co-incharge Surender Nagar.

Sources said the “wrongdoings” during the tenure of Hooda, the undisputed leader of the Congress in the state, would be highlighted before the people in the run-up to the election campaign in an attempt to blunt the anti-incumbency against the BJP’s 10-year rule.

The campaign against ‘baap-beta’ also fitted into the BJP’s narrative of dynastic politics of the Congress in Haryana. “The campaign against the ‘baap-beta’ will go a long way in giving a boost to BJP’s campaign against the dynastic politics in Haryana as the Hoodas are the face of the Congress in the election campaign. The BJP will expose wrongdoings during the Congress’ 10-year regime before the people,” a senior BJP leader told The Tribune.

Meanwhile, speaking at the installation ceremony of new BJP chief Mohan Lal Badoli, Chief Minister Saini, while targeting the Congress for corruption during Hooda’s tenure, took a dig at Hoodas, saying the Congress has been reduced to “baap-beta” party as senior leaders were leaving the party.

The sources said the aggressive campaign of BJP against Hoodas will also neutralise the impact of Congress’ state-wide ‘Haryana Maange Hisab Abhiyan’, which kicked off today. The campaign, spearheaded by Hooda Junior, is focused on issues such as unemployment and law and order.

During the recent Lok Sabha elections, various factors, including the anti-incumbency and Jats and Dalits rallying around the Congress, contributed to the BJP conceding five seats to the Congress. The Congress campaign was led by Hooda in all seats except Sirsa, a seat which was won by Hooda’s detractor Kumari Selja.

Meanwhile, sources said a detailed roadmap for the election campaign which would answer allegations levelled by the Congress in its ‘charge sheet’ against the BJP Government, would be unveiled soon.

Why BJP is targeting the Hoodas

The campaign against the ‘baap-beta’ will go a long way in giving a boost to BJP’s campaign against dynastic politics in Haryana as the Hoodas are the face of the Congress in the Assembly election campaign. The BJP will expose wrongdoings during Congress’ 10-year regime before the people. — Senior BJP leader

Cong neck-deep in corruption

The Congress has been reduced to ‘baap-beta’ party as senior leaders are leaving the party. It is neck-deep in corruption. — Nayab Singh Saini, CM