Chandigarh: Two years into the BJP's third term in Haryana, the Congress launched a statewide offensive on Wednesday, holding simultaneous press conferences in 13 cities to demand an account of the government's record.
The party said leaders including former chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Kumari Selja and Deepender Singh Hooda would lead the charge in different districts. The campaign is being coordinated by state Congress president Rao Narender Singh and party in-charge Sanjay Dutt.
Congress has said it will press the government on three broad fronts: rising prices and unemployment, the state's law and order situation, and the problems of farmers and women. The party has rolled out slogans such as “Two years, give an account, BJP government answer” and “Second year of the third term, Haryana in a mess”.
The BJP, which returned to power for a third consecutive term, rejected the criticism and pointed to its welfare schemes and development record.
Haryana is one of the states where the two national parties have been locked in a close contest, and the Congress's city-by-city push is being read as an early build-up to the next assembly battle. The party says it is trying to consolidate support among farmers, young voters and women, groups it argues have been hit hardest by the government's policies.
The BJP has countered by citing its welfare transfers and infrastructure push. Neither side has released fresh data to back its claims, and the political argument is likely to sharpen in the coming weeks. Congress says the campaign will continue across the state in the coming weeks.