Here is Dr. D R Chaudhary on the recently concluded elections and prospects of various political parties in the battle of ballots due in October;
........ In Haryana a sharp caste cleavage was seen during the elections not only in the seats contested by the HJC but also in the state as a whole. The desperate attempt of the Congress to woo the Jats by giving them a share in the Central and state services proved counter-productive. It angered the high castes and alienated the OBCs as they feared a cut in their quota by the resourceful Jat community. This led to a total eclipse of the Congress in western UP, Delhi Dehat and Haryana with the merciful exception of one seat in Haryana.
The warriors in the electoral battle will have to start the fight anew soon as assembly elections are due in October. The BJP is almost certain to dump the HJC after its miserable performance in the elections. It has two options before it — an alliance with the INLD or to make a bid to come to power on its own. After winning in 53 assembly segments out of 90, there is a growing pressure from its rank and file to go solo in the assembly polls. Secondly, the local BJP leadership is wary of the INLD after the bitter experience of facing humiliation while sharing power with it in the past. When the Jats of western UP and Rajasthan have embraced the BJP, why should their counterparts in Haryana treat it as untouchable?
There will be multi-cornered contests among the BJP, the Congress and the INLD. The Left would give a symbolic fight. Arvind Kejriwal's AAP made a promising beginning but met with a dismal end. If it succeeds in building somewhat effective organisational structure in the state and relate its concept of Swaraj to the ground reality in Haryana, empowering the Gram Sabhas to have an effective say in setting up liquor vends and running public utility institutions like government schools and basic health centres etc, it can also join the fray.
Much would depend on the performance of Modi's government at the Centre as it would have a direct effect on the neighbouring Haryana. Leaving aside Modi's plethora of pious platitudes and seductive rhetoric, if he fails to tackle corruption, rising prices, insufficient job opportunities, security of women and such other problems, anti-incumbency is likely to set in against the BJP which would help the Opposition in Haryana.
For full article log: Sharp caste cleavage in Haryana
Jat reservations alienate OBCs, others from Congress
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2014/20140524/edit.htm
www.tribuneindia.com opinion page dated 24.05.2014