Youngest aspirant for the CM’s post

Kuldeep Singh Bishnoi, the leader of Haryana Janhit Congress, projects himself as the youngest aspirant for the Chief Minister’s chair.

Months before the poll season, this former Congress leader, who was often seen in the gatherings of the Third Front, praised Bharatiya Janata Party’s Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi. Soon after, his party entered into an alliance with the BJP in the State.

The HJC in contesting in two seats — Hisar and Sirsa. Both are considered the stronghold of Bishnoi’s father, the late Bhajan Lal. The BJP contests the rest of the eight seats. However, Bishnoi claims he is the chief ministerial candidate of the alliance in the election to the State Assemblyscheduled next year.

“You vote for the alliance and make Modi your Prime Minister and me your Chief Minister,” the 45-year-old sitting MP said at an election rally. But Bishnoi finds the going tough. The Indian National Lok Dal, in an effort to consolidate anti-Congress votes, has been warning voters that Bishnoi may go back to his ‘family’ any day. Bishnoi, however, has other plans.

He is learning from the experience of Devi Lal, Mulayam Singh Yadav, Lalu Prasad and Sharad Pawar, who according to him, are successful leaders who found a life after they left the Congress.

Allegation When asked about the allegation of the INLD that Bishnoi will remain a Congress man, he said: “They have been saying this for the last seven years. They have nothing to say against me. I am the only leader probably in the country who has been so vocal to protest the corrupt policies of Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. I have been vocal against Robert Vadra in and outside Parliament. There is no going back for me to the Congress.”

Bishnoi’s present effort is to make inroads into the bipolar politics of the State. He says people will reject the Congress and the INLD is already finished, socially and politically.

“Whatever I do, I do it with a straight forward approach and clarity. I have got a clean image helping me in politics,” Bishnoi told Business Line.

Corruption Corruption is the main plank of his party. With the INLD leaders serving a jail term, and the Congress facing the heat of scandals nation-wide, he sees a chance for himself. He addresses mostly young voters.

“Sixty-three per cent of the State is less than 45 five years of age. They are angry against corruption. Naturally, they will not vote either for the Congress,” Bishnoi says.

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