The Congress in Haryana is fighting to regain its supremacy in the State. Anti-incumbency is strong. The State Chief Minister Bhoopinder Singh Hooda, the architect of the party’s impressive performance in the last two Lok Sabha elections, is still the face of the campaign.

His interaction with the people starts with the works his Government has done so far. He asks the voters to not to fall into the misinformation campaign of his opponents. During his hectic campaign schedule, he talked to Business Line on the politics behind this election. Excerpts from the interview:

Development is a key issue that is being debated in this election. Apparently the Congress is facing anti-incumbency in the whole country. What is the theme for you in this election?

I cannot talk about other States. But in Haryana, there is no anti-incumbency at all. Measures taken by the United Progressive Alliance Government such as right to food, right to education, right to work and right to information have helped the people to claim their rights. To implement these decisions, Centre needs the cooperation of States . We have implemented these decisions properly in Haryana. We will get the benefits of these steps in this election. But in those States where these decisions were not implemented in its true sense, people will continue to suffer.

Now the Congress has offered right to health and right to house in its manifesto. If right to food can be implemented, these promises can also be implemented in the country.

Narendra Modi and the Gujarat model of governance is the Opposition’s recipe for the problems faced by the country. Do you see a Modi wave in Haryana?

As far as Haryana is concerned, the wave is in favour of the Congress. Gujarat is a part of India.

As a person belonging to a nationalist family, I am happy that Gujarat is developing.

But the statistics speaks for itself. The development in Haryana and Gujarat cannot be compared. We give ₹1,000 as old age pension, but it’s just ₹400 in Gujarat. Diesel is costlier by ₹7 in Gujarat.

Farmers will have to pay ₹2.70 for a unit of power. Here we give special incentives to farmers.

Our development model is based on welfare to the people. I would suggest that the Haryana model should be implemented across the country as a yardstick of development. We have policies for deprived and downtrodden. We have implemented special schemes for Dalits, women and farmers. The development in Haryana will address even the last person on the ground.

Wouldn’t it have helped the Congress if you had also projected someone for the post of Prime Minister?

See, the Congress never declares a Prime Ministerial candidate. But everybody knows that Rahul Gandhi will be the Prime Minister when the Congress retains power.

Your government is also facing allegations of corruption. Your Opposition leaders Om Prakash Chautala and Abhay Chautala are saying that they were put behind bars for exposing the Congress.

There is no allegation of corruption against the Haryana Government. They (Opposition leaders) are in jail because of corruption. They are now saying that it’s because of political vendetta. But the facts are otherwise.

The case was registered when Om Prakash Chautala was Chief Minister.

The CBI investigation was announced as per the order of Supreme Court. It was started when AB Vajpayee was Prime Minister. There is another case of disproportionate assets against these people in court. They cannot hide their corrupt deals with a loud voice.

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