BHUPINDER SINGH HOODA IS IN BIG SPIRITS TO BRING CONGRESS TO POWER

Former Chief Minister Bhupender Singh Hooda , who is sure to contest in coming Haryana Assembly elections on October 5 , is known for the sobriquet “Ganga Putra” after a narrow escape from death in 2003 when his car was swept away by the flooded Ganga in Haridwar. This old timer of the Congress is leading his Party in the present intensive campaign against the ruling BJP in Haryana.

Hooda is a survivor in politics as well. After a series of electoral debacles since 2014, he was sidelined in state politics. But he clawed his way back in, making it clear to the Congress leadership that he was indispensable for the party in state. Just ahead of the assembly election in 2019, Hooda had, in a massive rally at his home turf Rohak, virtually declared himself the chief minister l candidate amidst massive applause.

He had the support of 12 of the Congress’s 15 MLAs. It made desired impact as party replaced Ashok Tanwar with Kumari Selja as the state unit President and Hooda was named leader of the Congress legislature party and chief of the state management committee. The party did well, getting 31 seats and pulling the BJP below 40 in the 90-member Vidhan Sabha in the 2019 assembly elections.

Hooda, 76, was chief minister for two terms between 2004 and 2014. A lot rides on his shoulders this time round, with the Congress leadership having virtually handed him the control of campaign. This may also be his last chance of electoral redemption. At a meeting with central leadership, he is learnt to have said that this could be his last election.

Son of freedom fighter Ranbir Singh Hooda, he took the political plunge in 1972 when he was President of Kilol Block in Rohtak. He worked his way up the ladder, manoeuvring a political landscape dominated by Bhajan Lal and Bansi Lal. His stature grew up when he defeated Jat stalwart Devi Lal in the Rohtak Lok Sabha constituency in 1991. He repeated the feat in 1996 and 1998. He was appointed state congress President in 1996 and held the post till 2001. Over the years, he has consolidated his popularity among Jat voters who comprise around 30% of the state’s population. He has also fashioned himself as a leader empathetic to the concerns of voters. Hooda’s big break came in 2004 , when Congress chose him as chief minister over Bhajan Lal. He was reelected in 2009, something that had not happened in the state since  1972.

The time away from power has not been easy for Hooda, with CBI and Enforcement Directorate snapping at his heels over alleged land scams that took place under his rule, and his detractors challenging his  dominance in the party.