In 2013, Narendra Modi, then PM designate, addressed a public rally in Rewari in Haryana.
It is estimated that around 1,25,000 to 1,50,000 people attended this rally.
This is the rally in which Modi promised implementation of One-Rank-One-Pension, a promise he has failed to deliver even after 11 years after the rally.
Following the Lok Sabha elections in 2014, which brought Modi to power, the Haryana population voted for a BJP Government in the state.
Then, Modi air dropped Manohar Lal Khattar as the CM of the state. Mr. Khattar was a first time MLA at that time. All other existing leaders were kept aside as Modi decided who would become the CM.
That time BJP had won 47 seats out of the 90 having a slender majority.
Then five years later, the ground had eroded and BJP was able to get only 40 seats and formed a government with Abhay Chautala of JJP, the party that had fought elections against BJP itself.
Now in 2024, when Narendra Modi arrived to address a ‘rally’ the crowd had reduced by 90%. This time, local commentators are not even calling it a rally. The total crowd that attended the rally, covering 22 seats, was less then 10,000, a far cry from 1,25,000 to 1,50,000 that Modi had commanded way back in 2013, when he was not even the PM of the country.
Haryana sends a lot of people into defense forces but the introduction of Agniveer Scheme has not gone down well with the citizens. The state suffers from joblessness like many other states of the union.
Similarly, the three Farm Laws that Modi brought and which he had to roll back after 10 months of a stand off with farmers, left a bitter taste in the mouth of farmers of this primarily agricultural state. This was followed by Modi’s going back on the promise of giving MSP and then the stand off that is taking place at various borders of Haryana as farmers have been beaten black and blue while trying to enter Haryana on their way to Delhi. They have been bombed with tear gas shells and one person has died in alleged police firing from Haryana side.
The situation is so bad that BJP leaders are unable to enter the villages to do their poll campaign. Top leaders are now reduced to holding poll meetings just addressing 400-500 people.
It is estimated by local experts that BJP will not cross 15 seats this time around. It is rumored that BJP’s internal assessment puts only 17 out of 89 candidates that it has fielded as having some sort of a chance.
BJP is staring at the gun barrel of defeat in Haryana and Congress is likely to win this state, the first that is going to polls after the 2024 General Elections (J&K has voted too before Haryana). Results on 5th October may very well seal the fate of Modi/Shah duo at the center too.
