Bhupinder Singh Hooda's sop opera triggers poll speculation

SONEPAT: Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda almost presented a populist budget at a rally in Sonepat on Sunday. He announced hike in minimum wages and salaries and pensions of state government employees, insurance cover for farmers, housing scheme for ex-jawans and creation of more jobs.

The populist measures have triggered speculation that Hooda may recommend Assembly polls along with the Lok Sabha elections, due less than 6 months away.

Hooda said that by the time recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission are received, about three lakh employees of Class III and IV would get an interim relief of Rs 20,00 per month. Police personnel would get an additional risk allowance of Rs 5,000 per month .

Honorarium of numberdars would go up from Rs 1,100 to Rs 1,500 and of Chowkidars from Rs 2,500 to Rs 3,500 per month.

The government has also decided to increase honorarium of anganwadi workers from Rs 5,000 to Rs 7,500 per month.

The honorarium of mini anganwadi worker would be increased from Rs 3,250 to Rs 4,000 per month. In a major incentive to small traders, Hooda said Form 38 would be done away from January to rid the state of inspector raj.

Hooda’s pre-poll bonanza announced may bring relief to Congress, which is likely to face a united BJP-INLD-HJC Opposition at the hustings. It also set of speculation that early Assembly polls may be called even though Hooda had recently denied such a probability.

Assembly polls are due in Haryana by October next year but an unfavourable Lok Sabah result for Congress could affect Hooda’s chances of achieving an hat-trick.

Attacking BJP for ‘making and breaking alliances’ with the last three chief ministers of Haryana, Hooda said, “In the past, BJP has made and called off alliances with Devi Lal, Bhajan Lal and Bansi Lal.

The party is indecisive; sometimes it is found in Kurukshetra (INLD rally) and other times at Rewari (rally where BJP confirmed its alliance with HJC).”

Referring to the presence of BJP leaders at recent INLD’s Kurukshetra rally, Hooda alleged, “Its not a political gatbandan (alliance) but a thugbandan (alliance of imposters).” He also targeted Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, who had called for a BJP-INLD alliance at the Kurukshetra rally.