Haryana Elections (Elections)https://www.newindianexpress.comen-usThu, 28 Mar 2024 23:51:43 +000093 per cent of newly elected Haryana MLAs are crorepatis, JJP members wealthiesthttps://www.newindianexpress.com/elections/haryana-elections/2019/Oct/25/93-per-cent-of-newly-elected-haryana-mlas-are-crorepatis-jjp-members-wealthiest-2052892.htmlhttps://www.newindianexpress.com/elections/haryana-elections/2019/Oct/25/93-per-cent-of-newly-elected-haryana-mlas-are-crorepatis-jjp-members-wealthiest-2052892.html#comments03f30897-4f80-4cc1-a75e-e8c5dae44869Fri, 25 Oct 2019 11:47:00 +00002019-10-25T12:30:00.000ZPRAMEELA K/api/author/1847182ADR,Haryana Assembly polls,Haryana polls,Haryana MLAsHaryana ElectionsNEW DELHI: Eighty-four of the 90 newly elected Haryana MLAs are crorepatis, according to an analysis by poll watchdog Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR).

In the outgoing assembly, 75 of the 90 MLAs possessed assets worth more than Rs 1 crore, which means the number of crorepati legislators has increased by 10 per cent, the ADR report said.

The average of assets per sitting MLA in Haryana is Rs 18.29 crore, while it was Rs 12.97 crore in 2014, it said.

According to the ADR analysis, 37 of the 40 BJP MLAs and 29 of the 31 Congress legislators are crorepatis. The 10 MLAs of the Jannayak Janata Party of Dushyant Chautala are the wealthiest with their average assets being worth Rs 25.26 crore.

Fifty-seven MLAs are aged between 41 and 50 years, 62 legislators posses a bachelor's degree or above.

Twelve of the 90 MLAs are facing criminal cases.

The number of such legislators in the outgoing assembly was nine, according to the report.

Of those facing criminal cases, four are from the Congress, two from the BJP and one from the JJP, it said.

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Independent MLA Gopal Kanda supports BJP in Haryana, triggers row over his pasthttps://www.newindianexpress.com/elections/haryana-elections/2019/Oct/25/independent-mla-gopal-kanda-supports-bjp-in-haryana-triggers-row-over-his-past-2052883.htmlhttps://www.newindianexpress.com/elections/haryana-elections/2019/Oct/25/independent-mla-gopal-kanda-supports-bjp-in-haryana-triggers-row-over-his-past-2052883.html#commentsbb0bfde2-1092-4604-86b1-4e68e24e5122Fri, 25 Oct 2019 11:12:00 +00002019-10-25T11:55:00.000ZPRAMEELA K/api/author/1847182Haryana BJP,Haryana politics,Haryana Lokhit Party,Gopal KandaHaryana ElectionsCHANDIGARH: With six MLAs short of the number needed to form the next government, the BJP Friday was promised "unconditional support" by Haryana Lokhit Party leader Gopal Kanda, a controversial politician accused in a case of abetment to suicide.

Kanda told reporters that he and all independent candidates have "decided" to extend unconditional support to the Bharatiya Janata Party.

In Delhi, six MLAs met the party's working president J P Nadda.

ALSO READ | Uma Bharti urges BJP not to seek support of Kanda

The apparent BJP move to accept Kanda's support was slammed by the opposition Congress and BJP leader Uma Bharti, who recalled the row in which the politician was involved when as a minister in Haryana's Congress government in 2012.

In a tweet, the former Union minister cautioned her party that this could hurt the clean image enjoyed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar.

Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala accused the BJP of doublespeak.

"I think you should look at the statements made by Narendra Modi and Amit Shah at the time when Gopal Kanda was a minister in the government in Haryana, when we forced him to resign after registration of a case and also removed him from ministership,” he told reporters in Delhi.

The BJP has emerged as the largest party with 40 seats in a hung assembly, beating the Congress which won 31 seats. Dushyant Chautala's Jannayak Janta Party has 10 MLAs and Indian National Lok Dal one.

The BJP is mainly counting on the support of Kanda, the lone MLA from his party, and seven independents to cross the majority mark in the 90-member House.

"My family is connected with the RSS since 1926. My father was connected with the BJP," said the Sirsa MLA, who was booked in 2012 for allegedly abetting the suicide of an air hostess employed with his aviation company.

ALSO READ | Five Independent Haryana MLAs meet JP Nadda, offer support to BJP 

Kanda was then Haryana's home minister in the Bhupinder Singh Hooda-led Congress government. "There is only one false case of 306 (Indian Penal Code section related to abetment to suicide) against me," he said.

"It is easy to make accusations," he said, trashing reports that he faced other cases as well. Geetika Sharma, once employed with Kanda's then MDLR airlines, was found dead at her Ashok Vihar home in northwest Delhi on August 5, 2012.

In her August 4 suicide note, she said she was ending her life due to "harassment" by Kanda and one of his employees. Kanda denied the charge. He was booked by the Delhi police in the case, in which he is currently out on bail.

Kanda, who held home, urban bodies, industry and commerce portfolios in the Hooda government, had tendered his resignation when the row erupted.

Then in the opposition in Haryana, the BJP had held protests against Kanda, demanding his arrest.

Kanda, who was earlier associated with the Indian National Lok Dal, fought as an independent and won the 2009 assembly polls after being denied a party ticket. Later, he extended support to the Congress when it fell short of majority that year and was made a minister.

Kanda's rise is well known in his hometown Sirsa, where he began as a shoe shop owner. He later joined the realty business and then dabbled with the aviation sector.

Asked what made him and independent candidates extend support to the BJP, Kanda said, "We felt that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, the country is progressing well and even the state government has delivered and provided a clean and transparent regime. So all independents talked yesterday and felt that the development work should continue, and therefore we decided to extend unconditional support to the BJP," he said.

Kanda said he and some other independents have talked to senior BJP leaders as well.

He claimed that some top Congress leaders also approached them, "but we decided to support the BJP".

A senior Haryana BJP leader said four of the winners -- Balraj Kundu from Meham, Nayan Pal Rawat from Prithla, Sombir Sangwan from Dadri and Randhir Gollen from Pundri -- fought as Independents when they did not get BJP tickets.

Besides, two other independents Rakesh Daulatabad, Dharampal Gonder are said to have BJP leanings.

Ranjit Singh Chautala, a Congress rebel, has already announced his support to the BJP.

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Amit Shah indicates BJP will form next govt in Haryanahttps://www.newindianexpress.com/elections/haryana-elections/2019/Oct/24/amit-shah-indicates-bjp-will-form-next-govt-in-haryana-2052434.htmlhttps://www.newindianexpress.com/elections/haryana-elections/2019/Oct/24/amit-shah-indicates-bjp-will-form-next-govt-in-haryana-2052434.html#commentsa5faac03-92bb-4e5a-a28e-58415d4f8f5fThu, 24 Oct 2019 12:47:00 +00002019-10-24T12:47:00.000ZPRAMEELA K/api/author/1847182BJP,Amit Shah,Haryana BJP,Haryana politics,Haryana polls,Haryana Assembly electionsHaryana ElectionsNEW DELHI: BJP president Amit Shah indicated on Thursday that his party will stake claim to form the next government in Haryana after the assembly election results threw up a hung verdict.

The BJP was either winning or leading in 40 seats in the elections to the 90-member state assembly, according to the latest election commission figures, falling short of the majority mark of 46.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ASSEMBLY ELECTION STORIES

"The (Manohar Lal) Khattar government in Haryana has made every effort for people's welfare under the central leadership of (Narendra) Modi. I thank people for making the BJP the single-largest party and giving it another opportunity to serve them," Shah said in a tweet.

He congratulated Chief Minister Khattar and state party chief Subhash Barala.

Shah also thanked voters in Maharashtra for "reposing their faith" in BJP-Shiv Sena alliance in the state.

Results showed that the saffron alliance was set to get majority, even though its overall numbers appeared to be falling short of their 2014 tally.

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Seven ministers, Assembly Speaker, state BJP chief trailing in Haryanahttps://www.newindianexpress.com/elections/haryana-elections/2019/Oct/24/seven-ministers-assembly-speaker-state-bjp-chief-trailing-in-haryana-2052315.htmlhttps://www.newindianexpress.com/elections/haryana-elections/2019/Oct/24/seven-ministers-assembly-speaker-state-bjp-chief-trailing-in-haryana-2052315.html#comments87b05075-23e7-4332-823a-b98df8d63b49Thu, 24 Oct 2019 06:32:00 +00002019-10-24T06:32:00.000ZPRAMEELA K/api/author/1847182Haryana BJP,Kanwar Pal,Haryana Assembly polls,Haryana polls,Haryana Assembly elections,Haryana ministersHaryana ElectionsCHANDIGARH: Seven Haryana ministers, including Ram Bilas Sharma and Capt Abhimanyu, and State BJP chief Subhash Barala were trailing, as per early Election Commission trends.

Haryana Assembly Speaker Kanwar Pal, a BJP legislator from Jagadhri, was also trailing in his constituency behind Congress' Akram Khan by a margin of 5,889 votes.

Sharma, a five-time legislator, was trailing by a slim margin of 329 votes against Congress' Rao Dan Singh. Abhimanyu, sitting MLA from Narnaund, was trailing by a margin of 9,956 behind JJP's Ram Kumar Gautam.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ASSEMBLY ELECTION STORIES 

State BJP chief Barala was trailing by a margin of 10,383 behind Jannayak Janta Party's Devender Singh Babli from Tohana seat.

Among other ministers who were behind included Kavita Jain trailing behind Surender Panwar of the Congress by a margin of 5,761 votes from Sonipat segment while another minister Manish Grover was behind Congress' B B Batra from Rohtak by a margin of 3,061 votes.

From Radaur, Minister Karan Dev Kamboj was behind Bishan Lal of Congress by a margin of 1,394 votes while another minister Krishan Lal Panwar was behind Congress' Balbir Singh from Israna reserved seat by a margin of 7020 votes.

However, senior Minister and five-time legislator, Anil Vij was leading in his Ambala Cantt seat by a margin of 3,569 votes over Independent candidate Chitra Sarwra.

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JJP will hold key to forming government in Haryana: Prateek Somhttps://www.newindianexpress.com/elections/haryana-elections/2019/Oct/23/jjp-will-hold-key-to-forming-government-in-haryana-prateek-som-2051926.htmlhttps://www.newindianexpress.com/elections/haryana-elections/2019/Oct/23/jjp-will-hold-key-to-forming-government-in-haryana-prateek-som-2051926.html#comments3614b4c1-1062-4faf-8f5e-884ada77ee8aWed, 23 Oct 2019 13:06:00 +00002019-10-23T13:06:00.000ZPRAMEELA K/api/author/1847182JJP,Dushyant Chautala,Jannayak Janata Party,Haryana Elections,Haryana polls,Haryana Assembly elections,Prateek SomHaryana ElectionsNEW DELHI: Jannayak Janata Party (JJP) will hold the key to forming the new government in Haryana, said its spokesperson Prateek Som here on Wednesday.

"My party has always claimed that we will hold the key to forming the government in Haryana. This time, Haryana has gone for silent voting. People were not very vocal about their choices," Som said.

"The surveys which have been conducted by various agencies are primarily based on the 2019 Lok Sabha election perception. They have not taken into consideration the actual report from the ground," said Som.

"I am claiming today again that tomorrow there will be an astonishing result. JJP will play a significant part in the formation of the Haryana government," he said.

JJP, a breakaway group of the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD), is led by Dushyant Chautala, former MP and grandson of former Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala.

Haryana went to the Assembly poll on October 21. The results will be announced on October 24. (ANI)

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Rajnath Singh accuses Congress of making Kashmir international issuehttps://www.newindianexpress.com/elections/haryana-elections/2019/Oct/17/rajnath-singh-accuses-congress-of-making-kashmir-international-issue-2048977.htmlhttps://www.newindianexpress.com/elections/haryana-elections/2019/Oct/17/rajnath-singh-accuses-congress-of-making-kashmir-international-issue-2048977.html#commentscdf86419-1e8e-4575-8e11-9be07bcfc06dThu, 17 Oct 2019 07:51:00 +00002019-10-17T07:51:00.000ZPRAMEELA K/api/author/1847182Rajnath Singh,Congress,Jammu and Kashmir,Haryana Elections,Haryana polls,Haryana Assembly electionsHaryana ElectionsBAWANI KHERA (Haryana): Launching an offensive against the Congress, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday accused it of internationalising the Kashmir issue and reiterated that it is an internal matter.

Addressing a poll rally ahead of assembly elections on October 21, the BJP leader brought up a meeting between Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn with representatives of the Congress in London and said they held discussions on alleged human rights violations in Kashmir.

"I want to ask Congress leaders where human rights violations are taking place. Human rights violations were taking place when terrorist activities were occurring (in Kashmir). Why did not you speak at that time?" he asked the Congress party.

"I want a reply from the Congress. Kashmir is our internal matter. Will there be a discussion on it in other countries... Will you be discussing Kashmir matter in other countries?" Singh asked.

The Defence Minister said many people had lost their lives in terror activities in Jammu and Kashmir and slammed the Congress for not giving its attention to the issue at that time.

"Ajeebo garib halaat in logon ne paida kar diyen hain, pata nahin kya ho gya hai? Inki buddhi maari gaye hai (They have created a strange situation. What has happened to them? It seems they have lost their mind)," he said.

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Haryana elections: BJP's Babita Phogat enters political 'dangal' from Dadrihttps://www.newindianexpress.com/elections/haryana-elections/2019/Oct/14/haryana-elections-bjps-babita-phogat-enters-political-dangal-from-dadri-2047377.htmlhttps://www.newindianexpress.com/elections/haryana-elections/2019/Oct/14/haryana-elections-bjps-babita-phogat-enters-political-dangal-from-dadri-2047377.html#commentsb255f0ca-dea2-4dec-8a3b-7e3bce481477Mon, 14 Oct 2019 08:13:00 +00002019-10-14T08:13:00.000ZPRAMEELA K/api/author/1847182Dadri,Haryana BJP,Babita Phogat,Haryana Elections,Haryana polls,Haryana Assembly elections,Dadri assembly seatHaryana ElectionsCHARKHI DADRI (Haryana): Wrestler Babita Phogat's entry into the political 'dangal' has spiced up the contest for the Dadri assembly seat, where no party has won consecutive terms in the past four elections.

The 29-year-old BJP candidate is pitted against seasoned politicians like Satpal Sangwan of the Jannayak Janta Party (JJP) and Nirpender Singh Sangwan of the Congress. Both have won this seat earlier by margins of less than 2,000 votes.

She became a household name after ''Dangal'' (wrestling ring), a film about the struggle of her father and noted wrestling coach Mahavir Singh Phogat to train her and her sister Geeta, became a runaway hit.

As the Commonwealth Games medallist hits the campaign trail, she is received by a group of elders in one of the villages.

"Every time I returned home with a medal, I got so much love and respect here, and this motivated and inspired me to go for the next event with even more determination," she says.

"Now, when I have entered the political 'dangal', I need the same love and support," she tells the gathering.

In Akhtiyarpura village, Phogat is warmly received by a group of women, many among them elderly, with garlands and warm hugs.

She may be a greenhorn in politics, but Phogat says politics has been part of her family. Her mother and an uncle have served as village heads.

"Politics is a platform to serve people. When I am among people, I don't feel as if I am doing anything new. If you work hard and with honesty, people will support you," she said.

Phogat is among the three sportspersons fielded by BJP in the upcoming polls -- the other two are wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt (Baroda in Sonipat) and former hockey captain Sandeep Singh (Pehowa in Kurukshetra).

The Arjuna awardee says like in sports, she will make a mark in politics too and motivate women to take the plunge in this field.

"Women, sportspersons and the youth will be my priority, and for them I will keep doing something or the other," she said.

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Haryana polls: INLD manifesto promises loan waiver for farmers, small traders https://www.newindianexpress.com/elections/haryana-elections/2019/Oct/13/haryana-polls-inld-manifesto-promises-loan-waiver-for-farmers-small-traders-2046903.htmlhttps://www.newindianexpress.com/elections/haryana-elections/2019/Oct/13/haryana-polls-inld-manifesto-promises-loan-waiver-for-farmers-small-traders-2046903.html#commentsb8e78549-6027-4d96-a4f6-3c3b0bb98d6cSun, 13 Oct 2019 07:47:00 +00002019-10-13T07:47:00.000ZPRAMEELA K/api/author/1847182Election manifesto,INLD,Haryana polls,Haryana electionsHaryana ElectionsCHANDIGARH: The INLD released its manifesto for the upcoming Haryana Assembly polls on Saturday, promising loan waiver for farmers and small traders, crop prices for farmers on the basis of the Swaminathan Commission's recommendations, free power to the farm sector and a slew of benefits for women, unemployed youngsters and traders.

The Indian National Lok Dal (INLD), which faced a split following a feud in the Chautala clan, has also promised to bring the state's share of river water after the construction of the Sutlej Yamuna Link (SYL) canal and reviving the Dadupur-Nalvi canal project, which was scrapped by the BJP-led government.

The manifesto for the October 21 polls was released by the party's state president, Birbal Das Dhalia.

INLD general secretary Abhay Chautala was conspicuous by his absence.

ALSO READ | BJP releases Haryana election manifesto; promises interest-free crop loan, comprehensive healthcare

Laying a special focus on the farming community, which the party claims to be its major support base, the INLD has promised to fix the minimum support price for crops by adding a 50-per cent profit over and above the cost of production, as recommended by the Swaminathan Commission, if voted to power.

Dhalia said the party would waive loans of up to Rs 10 lakh of farmers and small traders.

"Electricity bills of farmers will be waived and for domestic consumers, it will be waived for the first 200 units," he added.

The party, which has been out of power in Haryana for 15 years now, has also promised to do away with the crop insurance scheme and set up a farmers' assistance fund to compensate growers for crop loss.

There will be no Goods and Services Tax (GST) on farming-related equipment and there will be a 50-per cent subsidy on those, the party said.

It further promised to raise the farm loan limit from cooperative societies from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 3 lakh and a two-per cent interest on it.

The INLD pledged to give a 33-per cent reservation to women in government jobs and promised to improve the law-and-order situation.

It also promised to give Rs 5 lakh to the women of economically-backwards sections on their marriage.

ALSO READ | Congress promises 33 per cent quota for women in government jobs in Haryana poll manifesto

The party promised to give a job to each family in the state and an Rs-15,000 monthly unemployment allowance to unemployed youngsters. In a four-page document, the INLD pledged to reserve 75 per cent jobs in private industries for the youngsters of the state.

The party also promised to give two-wheelers to students after passing Class 12 to encourage them to pursue higher education and free bus service for rural students. Haryana will be made a drugs-free state, it said.

A grant of Rs 1,000 per month will be given to unemployed people aged between 35 and 60 years, the party promised, if voted to power.

Contractual employees will not be removed from their jobs till they attain 58 years of age, it said, adding that it would do away with the anomalies of the sixth and seventh pay commissions for government employees.

A sum of Rs 18,000 per month will be given to the "safai karamcharis" and watchmen, the party said. It promised old-age pension of Rs 5,000 per month and a Rs 5 lakh insurance for each citizen of the state.

With Haryana being known as the land of brave soldiers, the INLD promised a two-room house over a 200-square yard plot for the families of soldiers killed in the line of duty.

It also promised Rs 10,000 per month as pension for such families.

The party also promised a cash award of Rs 11 crore for sportspersons winning Olympic gold medals, Rs 8 crore for silver and Rs 5 crore for bronze medallists.

It also promised a respectable pension for retired sportspersons and Rs 1,500 per day as diet allowance for sportspersons of state, national and international levels.

For traders with a turnover of up to Rs 1.50 crore under the GST, the party promised provisions for quarterly returns and payment of taxes.

There will only be one or two GST slabs for the benefit of traders and the e-way billing process will be abolished under the GST system, it said.

The 90-member Haryana Assembly will go to polls on October 21 and the results will be announced on October 24.

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Haryana Police to adopt new measures to ensure fair, peaceful assembly electionshttps://www.newindianexpress.com/elections/haryana-elections/2019/Oct/09/haryana-police-to-adopt-new-measures-to-ensure-fair-peaceful-assembly-elections-2045200.htmlhttps://www.newindianexpress.com/elections/haryana-elections/2019/Oct/09/haryana-police-to-adopt-new-measures-to-ensure-fair-peaceful-assembly-elections-2045200.html#comments0b818a68-6543-4e0e-8432-dba159f3ce24Wed, 09 Oct 2019 14:26:00 +00002019-10-09T14:26:00.000ZPRAMEELA K/api/author/1847182Haryana Police,Haryana,Haryana Elections,Haryana Assembly electionsHaryana ElectionsCHANDIGARH: The Haryana Police will be deploying one of its personnel with police teams of neighbouring states at interstate/border 'nakas' four days prior to the October 21 assembly polls to intensify vigil against smuggling of unaccounted money, illicit liquor and arms, a senior official said on Wednesday.

It has mobilised additional manpower of over 5,000 personnel to ensure proper law and order during election process in the state and deployed a total of 57,583 police and home guard personnel in addition to 130 companies of central forces, including the paramilitary forces, ADGP (Law and Order), Navdeep Singh Virk said here.

ALSO READ: Haryana elections - BJP banks on Sandeep Singh to break INLD, Congress citadel Pehowa

Giving details about police arrangements, he said patrolling has been intensified in the state by police teams.

Virk said a meeting for enhancing coordination in terms of intelligence sharing and joint operations was also held with the senior police officers of the neighbouring states, including Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, and Union territories Delhi and Chandigarh.

ALSO READ: Haryana elections - Former JNU student leader Umar Khalid's attacker gets Shiv Sena ticket

"Vigil at interstate check-posts and nakas to prevent any unlawful activity is being stepped up. All the check-posts would be completely sealed to keep a tab on movement on unlawful activities before 72 hours of polling.

Our teams are also maintaining close coordination with the Excise Department to check the illegal supply of liquor across the state," he added.

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Haryana polls: Former Congress MLA Naresh Sharma joins BJPhttps://www.newindianexpress.com/elections/haryana-elections/2019/Oct/07/haryana-polls-former-congress-mla-naresh-sharma-joins-bjp-2044439.htmlhttps://www.newindianexpress.com/elections/haryana-elections/2019/Oct/07/haryana-polls-former-congress-mla-naresh-sharma-joins-bjp-2044439.html#commentsd5c04684-630e-4602-9817-b13303744c76Mon, 07 Oct 2019 12:33:00 +00002019-10-07T12:33:00.000ZPRAMEELA K/api/author/1847182Operation Lotus,Congress MLA,Operation Kamala,Haryana BJP,Haryana Congress,Haryana Elections,Naresh Sharma,Haryana polls,BadliHaryana ElectionsJHAJJAR (Haryana): In yet another blow to the Congress party in the run up to the Assembly elections in the state, its former MLA from Badli, Naresh Sharma joined the Bharatiya Janata Party on Monday.

Sharma joined BJP in the presence of Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar during his rally in  Beri.Congress

Sharma was elected as an MLA in 2005 and 2009.

This comes days after former Haryana Congress president Ashok Tanwar resigned from all election committees and from the party's membership.

ALSO READ | Denied ticket, former minister Sampat Singh resigns from Congress

On Sunday, two former MLAs from the Congress and one from the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) along with many workers joined the BJP on Sunday in the presence of the Chief Minister.

Voting for the 90-member Haryana Assembly will be held on October 21 and the counting of votes is scheduled on October 24. 

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Congress will waive farm loans if voted to power in Haryana: Kumari Seljahttps://www.newindianexpress.com/elections/haryana-elections/2019/Oct/06/congress-will-waive-farm-loans-if-voted-to-power-in-haryana-kumari-selja-2044031.htmlhttps://www.newindianexpress.com/elections/haryana-elections/2019/Oct/06/congress-will-waive-farm-loans-if-voted-to-power-in-haryana-kumari-selja-2044031.html#comments2d05b91f-81e8-4fa0-9799-1d34c988f2ccSun, 06 Oct 2019 11:36:00 +00002019-10-06T11:36:00.000ZPRAMEELA K/api/author/1847182loan waiver,Kumari Selja,Haryana Congress,Haryana politicsHaryana ElectionsNEW DELHI: The Congress will announce a loan waiver for the poor and farmers in the state if voted to power, Haryana Congress chief Kumari Selja has said.

In an interview to PTI, she said the Congress would not announce its chief ministerial candidate ahead of the elections and the same would be decided by the party high command after the polls.

The state Congress chief said the loan waiver promise would be part of the manifesto for the October 21 Haryana assembly polls and the document would be unveiled soon.

The Haryana Congress manifesto committee had submitted its report and final touches were being given to it, she said.

"When our government comes to power, we will waive loans of the poor, especially people who take small loans. We are also going to write off the loans of farmers who are being pushed to a corner and are suffering under the BJP government," she said.

The Haryana Congress chief said the loan waiver would be implemented within days of assuming power as has been done in Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh.

"We will carry out our promises within days and weeks of coming to power. We will give timelines. We will see to it that people see the difference between us and others who only make tall claims and believe in mere publicity and headline management," she said.

Selja, who took reins of the Haryana Congress from Ashok Tanwar, said the Congress believed in fulfilling its poll promises "unlike the BJP", which only used these to "mislead" the voters.

"The abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir is another tool the BJP is using to befool people," she said.

Asked to comment on Tanwar's resignation and his allegations on the Congress Party being the anti-thesis of democracy, Selja said, "The Congress has seen such rebellions in the past and has always come out stronger due to its inherent strengths. The Congress has the resilience to take these things."

ALSO READ | Women power to the fore in Haryana and Maharashtra elections

Selja refrained from making comments on her predecessor and said the party had appealed to everyone to work together in the interest of the organisation.

"Ashok Tanwar was named a star campaigner for Haryana. Now, he has chosen to resign. That is his decision. But we must all remember one thing. Organisations are bigger than people," Selja said.

On the issue of chief ministerial candidate in Haryana where former state CM BS Hooda is the Congress legislative party leader, Selja said the selection of the chief minister was a political decision and would be taken by the party high command.

ALSO READ | Political families to the fore in Haryana assembly elections

"The call on the CM will be taken by the high command and not the elected legislators. Candidates after all are also decided by the party," said Selja, adding that the Congress would not declare the CM candidate.

"There is no such convention (of naming a CM candidate) in Haryana," she said.

The Congress veteran dismissed charges of factionalism in the state unit, saying divisions are now passé and everyone was moving together to ensure a Congress win in Haryana.

On the current crisis gripping the party wherein Tanwar and former Mumbai Congress chief Sanjay Nirupam have both alleged conspiracy against former Congress president Rahul Gandhi's aides, Selja said, "The Congress leadership has always overcome such temporary challenges."

She said there was no fight between the old guard and the new leaders in the party and the Congress had always worked with cohesion.

"We have always had a pleasant mix of experience and new ideas. That will always be the case," Selja added. Taking on Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar, she said the BJP Government in the state had "given the Congress plenty to go to the people about."

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She said the BJP's decision to drop sitting ministers and MLAs mirrored the state government's poor performance and inefficiency.

"CM Manohar Lal Khattar-led BJP government is trying to import issues and not address the real ones concerning the state and its people. They need to give their report card. They have dropped sitting ministers and MLAs.  That is an acknowledgement of their government's failures," Selja said.

She asked Khattar, "Kindly tell us how many people have been given employment? Kindly tell us how many paper leaks have happened and why the youth are being taken in by the drug mafia which is moving towards Haryana after Punjab took stern steps to curb the menace."

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