New Delhi: The son-in-law of Congress President Sonia Gandhi was the 'biggest' political issue in Haryana, just six months ago. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) of Arvind Kejriwal went to town attacking Vadra for his alleged land deals in Haryana. Many AAP leaders repeatedly made it clear that Vadra will be the most 'important' election issue in Haryana. The AAP literally forced even the BJP to take up Vadra issue ahead of recent Lok Sabha elections.
However, the AAP lost the Lok Sabha elections very badly. It lost all the 10 Lok Sabha seats in Haryana. Prof Yogendra Yadav, its best known face after Kejriwal himself lost deposit from the prestigious Gurgaon Lok Sabha seat.
After the most humiliating defeat in the Lok Sabha polls, the AAP seems to have lost its base across Haryana. The party which was hoping to dethrone the Hooda-led Congress government in the Assembly elections is not even in a mood to contest the polls.
According to a report, Aam Aadmi Party has decided not to contest in the Haryana state election and is now eyeing the various Municipal Corporation elections in the state.
Prof Yogendra Yadav said that the party leaders had unanimously decided not to contest Assembly election to focus on Delhi elections. But the party would continue to take up issues in the state. Prof Yadav said, "There is no reason why we should not contest the municipal elections in the state. The decision to refrain from the state elections was taken as they coincided with probable elections in Delhi. However, we will try our best to reach out to the voters of Haryana."
Party volunteers claim that the party would now, once again, try to establish itself from the ground level and increase the member base of the party.
Since the AAP is out of fray, the main fight is between the ruling Congress, main opposition the Indian National Lok Dal and the BJP which is confident of coming to power in Haryana on its own.
Both the INLD and the BJP are attacking the alleged massive corruption by the Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and Robert Vadra. But, they are not focusing only on the Vadra issue. Instead they are questioning the Hooda government's achievements. Issues like power, water, housing, employment, farmers' plight and other things are dominating the poll scene.
Whatever may be the public perception, Robert Vadra has always maintained that he is being attacked because of his relationship with the Gandhi family. He has also got reprieve from various courts. The Delhi High Court recently dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) demanding a CBI probe into the allegations against Vadra. It has come as huge relief for the Congress party.
Controversial IAS officer and whistle blower Ashok Khemka is also not saying much about Vadra these days. According to a veteran journalist in Haryana, the Vadra issue may not have much impact in the elections, even if the opposition parties make it big. He said "people know that all political parties are corrupt. One individual can't be the sole factor. The 90 Assembly seats in Haryana have 90 entirely different local issues. Caste plays the biggest role, not corruption".
The BJP wants to fight the election promising a clean administration and the Chautalas' INLD wants to directly target Hooda.
The disappearance of the AAP from political scene has come as a huge relief for the Congress in Haryana. But, the opposition parties are alleging that the AAP has decided not to contest to help the Congress. But, the AAP claims that it will eat into the opposition votes, if it contests, helping the Congress to win and the question of it helping the Congress does not arise at all.
Finally, some good news for Vadra and Congress in Haryana.
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