Electoral Desperation in Haryana: BJP’s Gas Cylinder Gimmicks and the Congress-AAP Tug-of-War

 

Electoral Desperation in Haryana: BJP’s Gas Cylinder Gimmicks and the Congress-AAP Tug-of-War

Leaders Loved by Their Voters

As the elections in Haryana and Jammu & Kashmir roll on, it’s becoming clearer that the BJP is feeling the heat. Nothing says “we’re losing” quite like Amit Shah, the master strategist of the BJP, desperately dangling freebies to Muslim voters, promising two free gas cylinders on Id and Moharram. Yes, this is the same BJP that routinely serves up a diet of anti-Muslim rhetoric to rally Hindu voters, suddenly finding it in their hearts to offer something tangible. It seems the party that loves to stoke communal fires is now trying to douse them with gas cylinders—ironic, isn’t it?

Let’s not kid ourselves; this isn’t some newfound affection for the Muslim community. It’s panic. The BJP, led by Shah in Haryana, is scrambling to patch the holes in its sinking ship. This last-minute “generosity” reeks of desperation, a clear sign that things aren’t going well for them. When your entire campaign playbook revolves around demonizing a community, and then you turn around to hand them freebies, you know the electoral ground is slipping beneath your feet.

Meanwhile, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is accused of being the “spoiler” in the Haryana elections, with fears that it might split the anti-BJP vote. But maybe, just maybe, AAP isn’t here just to mess things up. They’ve jumped into all 90 seats, and if they snag enough of them, whoever wants to run Haryana—most likely the Congress—will have to knock on AAP’s door to form a government. Hooda’s Congress may think they have this in the bag, but if they don’t hit the magic number of 47 seats, they’ll be forced to cozy up to AAP. How’s that for a twist?

Hooda, once the grand old man of Haryana politics, seems to be banking on anti-BJP sentiment without realizing that voters now have more options. Rahul Gandhi, unlike Hooda, knew the stakes. He wanted an alliance with AAP, seeing how Kejriwal—a son of Haryana and a national figure—could strengthen the opposition’s hand. But Hooda, perhaps drunk on memories of his past glories, thought he could go it alone. Now, he risks watching the CM’s chair slip away if AAP gets enough seats to hold the balance of power.

The Congress’s history in Haryana is, let’s say, less than squeaky clean. During Hooda’s time, low-level corruption ran rampant, and when the BJP took over, many of these tainted figures jumped ship, joining the saffron brigade instead of facing justice. Funny how the “party with a difference” ended up taking in all the same corrupt elements. Hooda’s legacy continues to haunt the Congress, and Rahul Gandhi would do well to learn a thing or two from AAP’s no-nonsense, anti-corruption stance.

If there’s one lesson here, it’s that Rahul needs a bit more of Indira Gandhi’s iron fist and Kejriwal’s no-tolerance approach. Sure, Rahul’s got charm and can connect with voters across India, but to clean up Congress and solidify his claim as a true leader, he’s got to stop tolerating the dead weight in his own party.

Looking ahead, AAP could win anywhere from 15 to 35 seats, and Congress should get over 45. But if Hooda doesn’t swallow his pride and bring AAP into the fold, Congress might find itself struggling to keep a stable government. To stay relevant, Congress should collaborate with AAP and start ticking off those electoral promises. It’s the only way to boost their chances in the upcoming Jharkhand and Maharashtra elections.

In the end, this election highlights the absurdity of Indian politics. Amit Shah handing out freebies to Muslims, Hooda’s miscalculated bravado, and AAP’s rise as a kingmaker—each move tells the story of a system that’s part farce, part high-stakes drama. As the players jostle for power, the real question is: Will the voters see through the circus or get dazzled by the gas cylinder handouts and lofty promises?