Crisis in Haryana Vikas Party deepens

By Our Special Correspondent

CHANDIGARH, JAN. 6. The countdown for the virtual extinction of the Haryana Vikas Party (HVP) has already begun and gathering momentum by the day.

Political observers are not surprised at this trend as it indicates the utter demoralisation in Mr. Bansi Lal's regional party.

The latest jolt it received was at Hissar yesterday with the defection of the party vice-president and his most trusted lieutenant, Mr. Mani Ram Godara, a former Home Minister and a founder member of the HVP.

Mr. Godara has now assumed the mantle of the `supremo' of the Indian National Lok Dal personally from the Chief Minister, Mr. Om Prakash Chautala.

The HVP's death knell was indeed sounded last May after the BJP pulled out from Mr. Bansi Lal's regime which was subsequently ousted after 18 Ministers and MLAs rebelled and joined the Om Prakash Chautala bandwagon.

Later most of the HVP rebels merged their identity in the INDL with the exception of Mr. Karan Singh Dalal, who joined the BJP, and Mr. Jagan Nath and Mr. Dharamvir Yadav, who found haven in the Congress.

Interestingly, the three-year rule of Mr. Bansi Lal witnessed intense infighting and major defections by two senior leaders, Mr. Jai Parkash and Mr. O. P. Jindal. Both are now in the Congress.

After the fall of the tottering Bansi Lal regime, another close associate of the former Chief Minister, Mr. Ved Pal, deserted him and joined the Nationalist Congress.

Political observers feel that attempts by Mr. Surender Singh, to revive the HVP after its rout in the recent Lok Sabha elections have received a setback with Mr. Godara aligning himself with Mr. Chautala.

Interestingly, Mr. Bansi Lal is reportedly holding a rally at Kurukshetra on January 10 to launch his party's election campaign.

It is to be seen how he reacts to this latest round of defections in the HVP.

It is also being said that the former HVP MLAs are now trying their level best to join any political party which may field them in the forthcoming Assembly elections but this seems to be an exercise in futility as hardly any party would be prepared to accept them.

It is being said that Mr. Chautala has received a shot in the arm as Mr. Godara is said to wield influence among the Bishnoi voters in Hissar region.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Regional
Previous : Families of slain Dalits rehabilitated, NHRC told
Next     : Kannada Dept. Employees plan indefinite strike