Panchkula, May 4
Senior Congress leader and Leader of Opposition Bhupinder Singh Hooda on Monday asserted that his party is poised to gain in the ongoing municipal corporation elections in Haryana, citing strong anti-incumbency against the ruling BJP.
Addressing a press conference in Panchkula, Hooda claimed that elections in three municipal corporations are tilting in favour of the Congress. The briefing was attended by several party leaders, including MP Varun Mulana, Rajya Sabha MP Karmveer Badh, MLA Chandermohan Bishnoi, and mayoral candidate Sudha Bhardwaj, as well as ward-level candidates.
Launching a sharp attack on the state government, Hooda alleged that Haryana has witnessed little development over the past 11 years. “Roads are in poor condition and overall infrastructure reflects neglect,” he said, adding that even Panchkula, despite being located near the state capital, has not seen adequate progress.
He further alleged a ₹160-crore scam in the Panchkula Municipal Corporation, claiming that accountability has been limited to lower-level employees. Hooda also targeted the BJP’s mayoral candidate, alleging prior involvement in road-construction contracts and questioning the quality of the work.
Raising broader governance concerns, Hooda said unemployment in Haryana remains high and alleged a rise in organised crime, claiming the state has become increasingly unsafe. He also pointed to a steep rise in state debt, stating that it has grown from ₹60,000 crore (between 1966 and 2014) to around ₹4.5 lakh crore over the past decade.
On urban development, Hooda criticised the functioning of the Haryana Shehri Vikas Pradhikaran (HSVP), stating that it was originally intended to provide affordable plots to lower- and middle-income groups but is now benefiting property dealers through auction processes.
Expressing confidence in his party’s prospects, Hooda said Congress is likely to secure victory in Panchkula. “With a Congress MP in Ambala, an MLA in Panchkula, and a Congress mayor, it will be a ‘triple-engine government’,” he remarked.
On the issue of women’s reservation, Hooda accused the BJP of delaying its implementation despite the bill’s passage in 2023. He alleged that linking it with delimitation reflects a lack of intent, while highlighting that Congress has fielded women candidates in four out of five municipal seats.
Responding to a query on whether elections in other states would impact Haryana’s civic polls, Hooda said that just as the BJP benefited from anti-incumbency in West Bengal, Congress would gain from similar sentiments against the BJP in Haryana.
He also raised concerns over increasing cases of extortion in the state, alleging that several businessmen, including Sachin Kundu, have received threats.
The municipal elections in Haryana are being closely watched as a key political test for both the ruling BJP and the opposition Congress ahead of future electoral contests.
