Leaders should seek votes on basis of performance: Bhupinder Singh Hooda

CHANDIGARH: Taking a dig at the opposition, Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda today said political leaders should seek votes on the basis of their performance and not on the basis of their ancestors' names.

Referring to his father Chaudhary Ranbir Singh, who was a freedom fighter and member in different constituent assemblies, Hooda said he never sought votes in his father's name.

"I will refrain from doing so in future," he said. Hooda's comments came days after opposition INLD organised a state-level rally at Kurukshetra to mark the birth centenary of party founder Chaudhary Devi Lal.

Hooda also cautioned people against those state leaders who were doing politics in the name of their father and grandfather only for the purpose of grabbing votes.

Backing his claims of performance, Hooda said in 2005, when he became the chief minister, the plan outlay for the state was only Rs 2,300 crore and resource mobilisation was Rs 2,100 crore. Compared to this, his government has presented a budget of more than Rs 26,000 crore this year.