Hoodas trying hard to keep Rohtak

 The one constituency in Haryana where the Congress is fighting an election with its candidate and commander virtually sitting back at home is Rohtak, yet it’s the one seat all Congressmen are willing to bet on.

It’s a seat represented by Deepinder Singh Hooda, a two-time MP from Rohtak, and son of incumbent Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda.

Deepinder has been ailing with severe back pain. His doctors have advised him compete bed rest. With just a few days left for polling, possibilities are that he may not be able to campaign at all, much to the delight of his opponents. But the Congress knows this cannot be an excuse for giving up the fight. Deepinder’s father, his wife Shewta and mother Asha Hooda have all taken positions while Deepinder recuperates. The constituency is being well guarded even in his absence.

Bhupinder Singh Hooda hasn’t played his daily game of tennis for days, or fed cattle like he has been doing religiously each day at his residence in Chandigarh. His personal staff struggled to find time to examine his blood sugar levels.

As day breaks, both Shewta and Asha Hooda set out to meet people in the constituency, folding hands and connecting with them with a hope they will repose faith in them yet again. The Congress has strong base in the constituency. Bhupinder has won this seat four times, and now his son Deepinder is eager for a hat-trick. 

The BJP has fielded its Kisan Morcha President Om Parkash Dhankar who is banking among the others on farmer votes. Dhankar, who has once lost an assembly election and is fighting his first MP poll, is hoping that the much-flaunted ‘NaMo-wave’ will help him sail through.

The INLD candidate Shamsher Kharkra also enjoys support in the area and joined the INLD only a few months ago. RTI activist and AAP candidate Naveen Jaihind, whom Arvind Kejriwal gifted his blue Maruti Wagon-R this month, is using the car as a lucky charm during his campaigning.

The nurturing of the constituency by Hooda is evident in every form, which is why the Congress support base and loyalty has grown over the year.

On bed, Deepinder is in charge of the command and control centre. He’s active on social media, and flaunts his arguably better-than-rest performance as an MP.