We’re banking on our NYAY scheme & BJP’s failures, says Haryana Congress chief

For its hopes of resurgence in Haryana, Congress is banking on NYAY, the proposed commission for farmers and labourers, and most of all, BJP’s “failure”. TOI spoke to Congress state chief

Ashok Tanwar

on the party’s campaign and expectations in the state.


What do you think about Congress’s chances in Haryana?

Congress will get a landslide victory in the state, as the incumbent

government

has failed to deliver on all its promises, while INLD has disappointed as the opposition. It is Congress that has been leading the marches and protests to highlight the plight of common man. We’re banking on the work we’ve done and the failure of the current government.

There are a lot of reports about discord within the state unit. Does that impact Congress’s chances?

We do have differences on several issues, because it’s a democratic party and everyone can express their opinion. But these are not big enough to mar our chances of coming to power. Our agenda is to oust this government, responsible for misrule and burning of the state.

What are some of the main poll issues in the state?

Law and order in the state has deteriorated since BJP came to power. The state has burnt several times in the last five years. No one feels safe, from the girl child to the cow breeder. There have been several cases of atrocities against minorities. BJP has damaged the social fabric of Haryana and Congress is the only party that can bring back harmony.

What was the reason behind Congress’s poor performance in the Jind bypoll, and how does it affect the party’s chances in the Lok Sabha elections?

Political equations of every constituency are different. Jind was an INLD stronghold, when the son of the previous MP joined BJP, which got them sympathy votes. They also used the state machinery to win. This time, however, I am sure Congress will win from Sonipat, under which the Jind assembly falls, with a substantial margin.

Congress’s image, especially in Haryana, is that of a corrupt party. What have you done to disassociate from that image?

It is not Congress that is corrupt but BJP. BJP is a government run by mafia. Anyone who thinks Congress is corrupt is mistaken. You ask anyone and you will realise that corruption has only increased after BJP came to power.

What is Congress’s campaign plans in the state, and who will be the star campaigners?

We are working on booth committees to do door-to-door campaigns. Our mass contact programme in villages is going on across the state. We have around 6,00,000 party workers campaigning here. Our star campaigners include party president Rahul Gandhi, who will hold rallies and road shows.

You are contesting against Sunita Duggal from Sirsa. What are your chances of winning this seat?

We are assured of a victory in Sirsa. We have built national highways and commissioned the nuclear power plant. This area has a lot of issues such as farmer distress and unemployment, and the BJP government has failed to address these in their five years. Sirsa was the district with the highest wheat production during our tenure. Now, mandis are full but the government is not even able to transport the produce.