Congress hopes to win in Haryana riding on 'pro-incumbency wave'

Claiming that there is a strong "pro-incumbency wave" in Haryana, chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda today said the ruling Congress is confidant of returning to power with a "thumping majority" in the October 13 state assembly polls.

"There is definitely a strong pro-incumbency wave. The people will vote for development they will not be swayed by hollow promises of the opposition. Once again, opposition will have to bite dust and Congress will return to power with a thumping majority," Hooda said.

Asked how many seats his party was eyeing, the chief minister who is seeking re-election from Garhi Sampla-Kiloi in his home district of Rohtak, said he would not like to predict any figure, but added it would be a clean sweep in the polls like in the last Lok Sabha elections.

The Congress retained nine out of 10 parliamentary seats. To cash-in on its good showing in the Lok Sabha elections, the Hooda government has advanced the assembly polls by seven months.

With no ruling party in Haryana returning to power since 1977, the Hooda regime is looking to break the jinx. Recently, the tie-up between INLD and BJP fell apart while the HJC-BSP alliance could last barely two months.

As against Congress' win on 67 seats in 2005 assembly polls, INLD managed to win just nine while BJP got two seats in the 90-member house.

On power shortage problem which the opposition has been making a key poll plank, Hooda said the state government had taken steps so that people do not face inconvenience.

"Only one power plant was set up in 40 years, but we started four prestigious power projects I can assure that over the next 18 months, people will get power supply of 20-22 hours daily and within next 3-4 years Haryana will become a power surplus state," the chief minister said.

"Immediately after coming to power, our government waived off outstanding power arrears of Rs1,600 crore (of farmers and rural consumers)," he said.

He also claimed that a congenial atmosphere was provided to the industry and investors in the state. Asked if he will return as the next chief minister, Hooda said, "I am only a candidate and not staking any claim. It is for the party to decide."