DW BUREAU / Rohtak

The third generation of the Hooda clan in politics, Deepender Hooda, who is in the fray from the Jat-dominated Congress bastion Rohtak, which was won by his family nine times and three consecutive terms by him, is aiming the revival of the Congress with the parliamentary polls.

He's extensively campaigning in a blistering heatwave in this parliamentary constituency that spreads over nine assembly segments to ensure his return to the lower house of Parliament. He is currently a member of the upper house.

Deepender's father Bhupinder Hooda, who is campaigning aggressively across all 10 parliamentary constituencies, has represented the Rohtak seat, the state's political capital, four times, while his grandfather Ranbir Singh Hooda twice.

Predicting that people now want to change the government in the state too, Deepender, who on average covers 25-30 villages in a day by holding public meetings and face-to-face interactions, told IANS the Lok Sabha election has set the ball rolling for the assembly elections in Haryana too that are less than five months away now. "People want change in the state government too. First, the Congress-AAP alliance will root out the BJP from the state in the Lok Sabha polls by ensuring a win on all 10 seats. Later, we will show the exit door to the BJP from the state's helm," said a confidant Deepender, who believes anti-incumbency is banking high on the 10-year helm of the saffron party in the state. Out of the 18 parliamentary polls in Rohtak, the Congress has won 11 times.

In the 2019 general elections BJP's Arvind Sharma, a surgeon by profession, defeated Deepender by a slender margin of 7,503 votes. Deepender's major loss was in the Ahir-dominated Kosli constituency, despite major gains from his family's pocket borough, Garhi Sampla Kiloi.

Deepender and Sharma are in a straight contest again.

In his campaign to reach Parliament for the fourth time, the 46-year-old Deepender speaks of the development done during his three stints. Also in his speeches, he tries to drive home the point that winning from the Rohtak Lok Sabha not only ensures a ticket to the Parliament but also to Chandigarh, the state's capital.

"I am focusing on the development works done by me and the previous Congress governments in the state. I am telling the people that only the Congress can bring them back on the path of overall growth," said a soft-spoken Deepender, who completed an MBA from the US, known to be an easy access to the public. During his campaign, the junior Hooda was seen making crispy and crunchy "jalebi" at a roadside stall. In his public meetings, women with their faces covered in a ghunghat (veil) are coming in strength to raise issues concerning them and the treatment meted out to wrestlers.

His rival Arvind Sharma, 62, a dental surgeon by profession, has been promising to bring the Metro to Sampla in Rohtak district and announced to quit politics, if he failed to do so.

His vote percentage was 47 per cent in 2019, just .6 per cent higher than his nearest rival Deepender.

Four-time MP Sharma, who largely banks on PM Modi's wave, previously represented the Sonipat and Karnal Lok Sabha seats.

Two-time chief minister Bhupinder Hooda, the father of Deepender, rose to fame by defeating former deputy prime minister Devi Lal thrice. / IANS /
(editor@dailyworld.in)