JJP and INLD are the real supporters of BJP: Bhupinder Singh Hooda

Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda is a veteran of election battles but is fighting arguably his toughest election, one that holds the key to not only his own political future but also that of his party in Haryana. The two-time former CM spoke to Dipak Kumar Dash at his Rohtak residence. Excerpts

Congress got whitewashed in the Lok Sabha election.

But you’ve been saying the state polls will be different. What has changed?

Issues in a Lok Sabha election and a state assembly election are different. People are weighing the failures of the BJP government against the achievements of our last government. During our regime, every section was satisfied. Now, none is happy.

So what are the issues that Congress in banking on?

The biggest issue is the BJP government’s failure on all counts and non-fulfilment of a single poll promise of 2014. People’s hopes have been dashed. They promised to increase minimum support price for crops as per the M S Swaminathan panel recommendation. They did not deliver on that promise and today farmers are not even getting MSP. They are going for distress sale. During our government, we gave 3.82 lakh 100 sq metre plots to scheduled caste families and 10 lakh water connections. BJP had promised to bring government employees’ pay scale on a par with Punjab. They could not pay even the house rent allowance as per the 7th Pay Commission . The employment situation has worsened. It seems there is no government.

The PM’s campaigns in state elections have been disrupting plans of opposition parties. And he is currently campaigning in Haryana. How do you see this affecting the polls?

The PM is the leader of BJP. He can come and address rallies. Assembly election issues are different. In five years, not an inch of rail network has increased and not a single extra unit of electricity has been generated. We did not get a new hospital, primary schools were closed and people did not get work. Those are the issues in this election. The BJP government is now known more for “jhooth, phoot and loot”. They make false promises and claims and create divisions in society. It’s a transparently corrupt government. When they conducted recruitment for 18,000 class-IV posts, we saw how highly qualified youth applied for those jobs. Half of the selected did not join. But during the selection of sub-divisional officers (SDOs), only two candidates from Haryana were selected. So, it means educated youth from Haryana will become peon and posts of SDOs will go to others.

How do you look at the role of INLD and JJP in this election?

INLD was the main opposition party in 2014. But after one Parliament session, we could make out how it became BJP’s main supporting party. Dushyant Chautala was an INLD MP. He gave unconditional support to BJP at the Centre even when they did not ask for it. People have seen through their (INLD and JJP) intentions. I call them “vote katua”; they can hurt prospects of others and nothing else. Neither party will get anything. This time, it’s direct fight between Congress and BJP.

You are saying they are working behind the scenes with BJP?

I said they are the real supporters of BJP.

So, will Congress get the Jat vote?

There is no such thing like Jat and non-Jat; these are all myths. People have understood this. The development work we did was for all castes. Our development work impacted every section of society.

After Ashok Tanwar left Congress he said Dushyant Chautala should become CM. Your comments?

He has resigned from Congress and it was his remark. Why should I comment? He can support anybody in the morning and afternoon and someone else in evening.

What will be the impact of his departure? It is said he was close to Rahul Gandhi .

Many people have also left BJP; the party is above individuals. Congress is united and fighting as a united outfit.

Who is the leader of Congress in Haryana now?

The party is taking the lead. We are putting in our best efforts. As I said, Congress is fighting as a united force.