Several voters in the Garhi Sampla-Kiloi Assembly constituency adjoining Delhi can’t wait to re-elect Congress’s Bhupinder Hooda as the chief minister for the sixth time.
Even non-Congress voters here feel Hooda is their best bet to bring back the basic amenities such as motorable roads, clean drains and a reliable power supply. The incumbent BJP government, they say, has set a low bar for the Congress leader by “punishing” the Hooda fort that they haven’t been able to breach.
Dharmender Vashisht, owner of an electronics repair shop in Sampla, told The Telegraph that he still “loves Modi” for “defending us from India’s enemies” but feels Hooda should be the chief minister.
“During the rains, this entire place goes under water for days. We voted the BJP to power in the municipality but they just don’t get anything done. I am not saying that the Congress is good. All I am saying is my business has not recovered after the Covid-19 lockdown; and bad roads, waterlogging and inflation make my life harder. Hooda’s promises of freebies may increase inflation further, but he is a man who works. This is his seat and he will be the chief minister,” Vashisht said in an attempt to explain his dilemma.
Rumblings of discontent over “pakshpaat” (discrimination) and “badle ka vote” (revenge vote) echo in the filthy streets of this constituency.
“We are called a VIP constituency. It is a curse because the BJP has deliberately reduced us to a garbage dump,” said motorcycle mechanic Praveen Vansh of Bhalot village.
“Today, even if Modi contests from here, he will lose. Can you believe that electricity came for just two-and-a-half hours today? You can’t produce electricity or anything good by only doing Hindu-Muslim. Ab bas Bhupi bacha sakta hai (Now only Bhupinder Hooda can save this place).”
Hooda has been pitted against the BJP’s Manju Hooda — daughter of a police officer who married a gangster. Her position as the Rohtak District Council president isn’t doing her any favour here as locals feel the rest of Rohtak is in much better shape than the villages of this constituency.
Amit Hooda, the halwai (sweetmaker) of Kiloi Khas village, said: “If anyone tells you that things weren’t much different during the Congress regime, it means they have lost their memory. Industries, the ITI, all came during Bhupinder Hooda’s term as the chief minister. Blame him for 1,000 things but don’t tell that he didn’t work for this seat.”
“There may be some voters who feel that one community (the Jats) may dominate. What is there left to dominate? All our boys are going to other states to work,” he added.
A state government employee in Sampla said the BJP had treated Haryana “as if it is Pakistan”.
“Amit Shah accused people in the Congress rallies of raising pro-Pakistan slogans. Here the BJP has treated Haryana as if it is Pakistan. We were a developed state and people from all over India came to work here. Looking at Sampla, you won’t believe it is so close to Delhi. Which industry will come here?” he said.
