Politics in Haryana has never been devoid of drama. The election, last week, of Bhupinder Singh Hooda as the state's new chief minister was no exception. It had all the ingredients of the Congress-patented political plot-backroom manoeuvres, cloak-and-dagger games and power deals.

PICTURE SPEAK

IN THE RED: Lal is already facing dissent; (top) Hooda taking oath

But unlike the power-at-any-cost moves initiated by the Congress in Goa, Jharkhand and Bihar that ultimately proved disastrous, the fight for the coveted post in Haryana had an in-house script. In the end, the Congress high command had its way. But not before it exposed the new faultlines in the faction-ridden state unit which, just a few days ago, was celebrating the two-thirds majority it had won in the 90-member Assembly.

When the Congress Legislature Party met to elect a new leader, a clear message had been sent to the newly elected MLAs: Hooda is party President Sonia Gandhi's man. Former chief minister and state Congress chief Bhajan Lal, who raved and ranted after he was sidelined, even resigned and defiantly threatened to rock the Hooda-led Government within three months. But a day later he made a tactical retreat after the high command conceded some of his demands. The exact terms of the power deal are yet to be revealed, but these reportedly include deputy chief ministership for Lal's elder son Chander Mohan and a minister of state portfolio for Kuldip Bishnoi, his younger son, who is also a Lok Sabha MP.

Putting the 57-year-old Hooda ahead of several other party stalwarts is part of the Congress' long-term strategy to groom a Jat leader in order to checkmate the ousted chief minister Om Prakash Chautala. Elevating Hooda is also a reflection of the party's agenda to bring about a generational shift in the state politics by making a break from the old-mould politicians represented by Lal.

Lal, meanwhile, is already finding it hard to keep his flock together. The impression that he has struck a deal for his sons while leaving his loyalist MLAs out in the cold has made them desperate. So hours after Hooda took over, eight MLAs deserted Lal. Making a dent in Lal's camp by dangling ministerial berths and lucrative chairmanships of boards and corporations is part of Hooda's strategy to fortify his defences.

INTERVIEW | B.S. HOODA

"No one can destabilise my Government" A day after being sworn in as Haryana chief minister, Bhupinder Singh Hooda spoke to Special Correspondent Ramesh Vinayak. Excerpts: Q. How stable will your Government be? A. No one can destabilise me. Q. Who will be your main opposition-Om Prakash Chautala or Bhajan Lal? A. Bhajan Lal is in the Congress. Q. Has Bhajan Lal reconciled to your elevation? A. Anyone who has faith in Sonia Gandhi will have to support this Government. Q. Your party promised to put Chautala in the dock for corruption. A. Nobody will be spared but there will be no political vendetta. Q. Is the Congress being divided along Jat and non-Jat lines. A. I am a Jat. But I am a worker of the Congress which represents all sections of the society. The Jat and non-Jat divide is a myth created by some people. Devi Lal and Chautala have been beneficiaries of this myth.

Hooda's first tough task is also a tricky one-the formation of his cabinet. There are more than two dozen aspirants while the cabinet, according to the new norms, will have to be confined to 14 ministers. The chief minister also has to cater to the ambitions and stakes of the MPs who sided with him in the battle for leadership. Though he claims to represent "chhattis baradari" (all the castes), Hooda knows too well the importance of keeping the volatile Jats on his side to keep Chautala in check. No wonder Hooda's first official move was the review of criminal cases against the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leaders during their agitation against the Chautala regime. The BKU, led by its influential firebrand chief Ghasi Ram Nain who was booked under sedition charges, was the key factor in swinging the Jats in favour of the Congress.

The lack of administrative experience may be Hooda's Achilles' heel, but even his critics acknowledge the Jat leader's tenacity. He has promised a rule free from "bhay aur bhrashtachar (fear and corruption)". But with the party tasting power after nine long years, it will be easier said than done. Having built his anti-Lal credentials by harping on a corruption-free agenda, Hooda has set in motion his juggernaut against Chautala. He has committed himself to a time-bound probe into the Congress' chargesheet against the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) regime. Reveals a close aide of Hooda: "Short of arresting Chautala, the Government will try to entangle him in legal cases on corruption."

Hooda's administrative skills will also be tested with regard to an equitable distribution of canal water-an emotive issue in the Jat heartland. The grudge that the central parts of the state are getting more than their due share of canal water runs deep in the southern districts which are at the tail end of the irrigation system.

Though the legal battle over the controversial Sutlej-Yamuna Link canal (SYL)-the main offshoot of the interstate water dispute between Punjab and Haryana-is pending with the Supreme Court, the explosive issue is sure to spring up on the political arena within the next few months. "We will leave no stone unturned to have the SYL canal completed because this is the lifeline of Haryana," says Hooda. But Chautala will not lose the opportunity to provoke the peasants. "Since the Congress is in power at the Centre as well as in Punjab and Haryana, it is just the right time to solve this issue," says the INLD chief.

With Lal breathing down his neck, several administrative challenges and a long list of promises to keep, Hooda will have to pull out all stops to stay in the saddle. The inner party wrangling that followed his election as the chief minister is an indication of the power struggle that could erupt if he trips. Clearly, he will need more than Sonia's hand to clinch the battle against Lal decisively.

Index