Haryana returns Cong to power; Chautala gains strength

After an impressive show in the Lok Sabha elections, Congress was in for a surprise in the Haryana Assembly polls but managed to garner support to form the government in the state.

After an impressive show in the Lok Sabha elections, Congress was in for a surprise in the Haryana Assembly polls but managed to garner support to form the government in the state, which was in news in the year for its boxers, the Chand-Fiza love story and honour killings.

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It was a windfall of sorts for Congress when it retained nine out of 10 Lok Sabha seats in May but when it went for an early assembly poll, there was a surprise in store. The ruling party fell short by six seats of simple majority, ending up with a tally of 40 seats. INLD, led by former Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala emerged the dark horse winning 30 seats.

Congress was saved by unconditional support extended by seven Independents and later on, five of the six Haryana Janhit Congress (HJC) legislators merged themselves with it.

The year kept Haryanvis, scores of other countrymen and media busy with the love saga of former deputy chief minister Chander Mohan and the state's former additional advocate general, Anuradha Bali alias Fiza Mohammed. A year back, both converted to Islam to marry, but in a flip-flop Mohan, who who had earlier turned Chand Mohammed, separated from his second wife and divorced her later, as he went on to live in England for a few months after disappearing suddenly.

Mohan later re-joined his 'Bishnoi' fold and was accepted by his family and his father, former chief minister Bhajan Lal.