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Race for Badshahpur seat heats up as Cong exudes confidence

Senior Congress leader Alka Lamba, in a recent rally, expressed confidence that Congress is poised to form a strong government in Haryana

Updated on: Oct 1, 2024, 08:30:09 IST
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Senior Congress leader Alka Lamba addressed a rally in Gadoli Khurd village in support of Vardhan Yadav, Congress’ candidate for the Badshahpur assembly constituency, on Monday. She said that given the current political developments, Congress is poised to form a strong government in Haryana. Lamba expressed confidence that Congress is poised to form a strong government in Haryana, predicting the ousting of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Congress leader Alka Lamba and Badshahpur candidate Vardhan Yadav address the public in Bhavani Enclave on September 30. (HT Photo)
Congress leader Alka Lamba and Badshahpur candidate Vardhan Yadav address the public in Bhavani Enclave on September 30. (HT Photo)

“The political landscape in Gurugram and across Haryana has significantly changed in the last 36 hours,” Lamba said, noting that the large crowds at even smaller Congress events demonstrate that the electorate envisions its future with the Congress party. “While BJP may send its star campaigners to assert claims of victory, the public sentiment in Haryana is evident,” she added.

In the rally, Lamba also highlighted the successful tours of former chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and MP Deepender Singh Hooda, adding that their visits have swayed public opinion in favour of Vardhan Yadav in Gurugram.

Lamba said that the people of Haryana have endured much over the past decade, particularly housewives who have struggled with rising inflation, questioning why the prices of gas cylinders and fuel are reduced only during elections. “It is time to remove a government that shows no concern for its citizens,” Lamba added.

Meanwhile, during the rally, Badshahpur candidate Vardhan Yadav promised the villagers that if elected, he would prioritise resolving their issues such as poor roads and drainage. Yadav accused the BJP of fostering corruption, which he said is directly responsible for the pothole-ridden roads and lack of infrastructure development. “Corruption has clogged our development. Potholes, clogged drains, and the dumping of construction and demolition (C&D) waste in our drains are results of a corrupt system that does not care for the people. We deserve better, and I promise to clean up the mess that the current administration has left behind,” he said.

Yadav further criticised the BJP-led government for creating the Manesar Municipal Corporation without providing any benefits to the villages. “The BJP government formed the MCM to grab village properties, but they have done nothing for us. The basic amenities like proper sewage systems, electricity, and water supply are in shambles. Both Gurugram and Manesar corporations are ignoring the real issues, and the villagers are suffering,” Yadav said.

The momentum behind Yadav’s candidacy has been building in the Ahirwal region, especially after the speech by Congress leader Deepender Hooda, said Lamba. At a recent rally in Badshahpuron Monday. Hooda urged people to support Yadav, emphasising that Yadav is a close ally and pivotal to the region’s development. “Yadav’s potential win as a crucial step towards forming a ‘double engine sarkar,’ where both state and central Congress governments would work in tandem for the benefit of the Ahirwal community,” said Hooda.

In the rally on Monday, Vardhan Yadav, urging the people of Badshahpur to support him, said, “I am committed to bringing real development to our villages—development that we have been denied for too long. With your support, I will ensure that not only will the roads be rebuilt, but we will also have better infrastructure, clean water, reliable electricity, and improved healthcare.”

  • Leena Dhankhar
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    Leena Dhankhar

    Leena Dhankhar is Senior Editor and Bureau Chief, Gurugram, at Hindustan Times, where she has spent over 17 years chronicling the transformation of one of India's fastest-growing urban regions. From starting her career as a crime reporter to leading the Gurugram bureau, her journalism has been defined by investigative reporting, in-depth storytelling and an unwavering focus on public interest. Over nearly two decades, she has reported extensively across crime, politics, civic governance, elections, real estate, environment, courts, sports, education and entertainment, covering Gurugram, Faridabad, Nuh and Palwal. Her reporting has exposed several major scams and systemic failures, including insurance frauds, waste management irregularities, illegal arms manufacturing units in Nuh, illegal mining in the Aravallis, organised crime networks and governance lapses affecting millions of residents. Known for her investigative work and exclusive stories, Leena has reported on high-impact national issues, including the Nicaragua charter flight carrying Indian migrants that was turned back amid allegations of human trafficking, exposing the growing network of illegal immigration rackets. Her work has also focused on gang wars, prison administration, juvenile crime, women and child protection systems, the functioning of the Juvenile Justice Board and Child Welfare Committee, and environmental challenges such as pollution, waterlogging and deteriorating civic infrastructure. Beyond hard news, Leena has extensively documented Haryana's rich heritage, forests and wildlife, bringing attention to the state's historical landmarks, biodiversity, conservation efforts and ecological challenges through immersive reportage and feature writing. Her journalism has consistently gone beyond breaking news. She has documented Gurugram's rapid urbanisation through long-form narratives and enterprise reporting on issues ranging from pothole-ridden roads, flooding and waste management to the changing social fabric of India's Millennium City. She also writes widely read feature columns, including The Outsider, Changemaker, and Concern for Gurugram, profiling people, places and ideas shaping the city's identity. Leena is the author of Gurugram School Murder, published by Juggernaut Books, a deeply reported account of one of India's most high-profile school murder investigations. She is currently working on her second book, an investigative work exploring some of India's most significant scams and fraud investigations. Beyond print journalism, she has expanded her storytelling through public speaking and digital media. She is a TEDx speaker and has produced podcasts exploring Gurugram's transformation, civic challenges and untold stories. Her work reflects a commitment to narrative journalism that combines rigorous reporting with compelling storytelling. A law graduate with an MBA in Human Resources, Leena brings a multidisciplinary perspective to her reporting, particularly on governance, public policy and legal affairs. She has travelled extensively across India to pursue investigative assignments, often reporting from remote locations and conflict-prone areas in search of stories that matter.Read More