Municipal elections have been announced in Haryana. Voting will be held on March 2, while the results will be declared on March 12. Mayor and ward elections are to be held in Faridabad, Gurugram, Manesar, Panipat, Rohtak, Yamunanagar, Hisar and Karnal.
The local body elections to be held five months after the assembly elections in Haryana are a test for the ruling party as well as the Congress. The BJP has to prove the popularity of the government and also show that the charisma it showed in the assembly elections is still intact.
On the other hand, there is a scattered and dismal Congress without an organization, without an opposition leader. It is an even more difficult contest for the other parties. Once again, this is also a test of the discretion of the voters. BJP has been in power in most of the 41 bodies in which elections are going to be held.
Generally, the trend has been that the public goes with the government. It has been three and a half months since the government was formed. There is no challenge before the government and the Chief Minister. Therefore, this time also it is believed that BJP will get full benefit of being in power.
Still, BJP has to capture maximum number of seats, therefore its competition is not with anyone else but with itself. It has to do better than its last electoral performance. If it avoids getting hitwicket due to some mistakes, then it will be easy for BJP to win this match.
Due to the lethargy of the high command, Congress is in a bad condition in Haryana. There is no organization for the last ten years. And even the leader of opposition has not been elected in the assembly. Due to the confusion about the leadership, Bhupendra Singh Hooda does not seem to be very active and neither is his opposing group in a position to do anything.
In such a situation, the ground level workers are completely inactive. It remains to be seen whether Congress will play this match with full strength or will give a walkover. The condition and direction of Aam Aadmi Party will depend on the results of Delhi elections whether it fights on party symbol or not.
Janayak Janata Party, Indian National Lok Dal are no longer in a position to do much. The voters also have to face the test of choosing the city government as to whom they choose to solve their daily problems and issues.
Amidst all the political calculations, the most important thing will be that they choose people with a clean image who can bring development. This election will bring heat to every ward and locality, it will also be in the hands of the public to ensure that this political heat does not breed enmity, law and order does not deteriorate, the atmosphere does not deteriorate.
