Haryana Mandate: A nod to BJP's forward-looking march

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji has called the Haryana poll victory an outcome of “immense hard work” of BJP workers and rightly so. Our party always takes any battle seriously. There was an added importance to the elections in Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir this year as these came shortly after the Lok Sabha polls.

In Haryana, the BJP has scripted history. Ever since the state was formed in 1966, this is for the first time, any party has been re-elected for a third consecutive term. This is a mega milestone because even by 2013, the BJP was considered a weak outfit in Haryana.

But since 2014, our party government has changed the face of the state. Both the Chief Ministers Manohar Lal Khattar and Nayab Singh Saini ought to be complimented. Politically, one can point out that the BJP's strength in Haryana has been developmental works. But it has also been the inclusive approach and a clear emphasis given for upliftment of the poorer and neglected sections. The welfare measures were very popular. 

After Manohar Lal Khattar, a Punjabi Khatri, was to be replaced this year, in March 2024 the party found an OBC alternative Nayab Singh Saini. This shows our acceptability and popularity amongst all sections of people of Haryana. 

The Haryana mandate is also a statement of defeat of anti-India campaigners - chiefly the Congress party and its leader Rahul Gandhi. In his victory speech on Oct 8th at party headquarters, PM Shri Modi j rightly said: "Before the Lok Sabha election, the Congress, their alliance partners and Urban Naxal friends went to the court several times to disrupt the functioning of democratic institutions". 

The Congress is today a party that tries to ruin the "reputation of every institution" Indians are proud of. What a shame. Even as the Leader of the Opposition, Rahul Gandhi is not changed and whenever he is abroad, he makes all kinds of statements against India. The patriotic people of Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir have given him and such forces a befitting response. 

The mandate in Jammu and Kashmir with good turnout of voters shows the political correctness in the Modi government's decision to abrogate Article 370.

Prime Minister Modi ought to be complimented for providing such an inspiring and exemplary leadership facing so many odds. I have stated earlier in these columns that the future Roadmap for the country under Shri Modi's leadership will be a proactive approach towards economic growth, peace and development. Our party, even during election time, generally avoids talking about freebies and keeps the manifesto or Sankalp Patra focused on enhancing manufacturing, particularly in the MSME sector, to spur employment.

As a chain effect, this will increase rural incomes, and promote exports. Also, our party has laid focus on improving national infrastructure, including defence, railways, aviation, electricity and renewables.

The forward-looking march will continue and we aim for greater heights. 

( M Chuba Ao is BJP national vice president and views are personal )