Thaindian News

Chandigarh, Sep 22 (IANS) The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which is contesting on its own all the 90 seats in the Haryana assembly elections next month, is banking on youth energy by fielding many young candidates.
“The average age of the BJP candidates contesting in the Haryana assembly elections is 45 years. This time we have fielded youngsters on most of the seats in the state, as we believe that they can play a prominent role in the country’s overall progress,” Vijay Goel, the BJP leader in-charge of the party affairs in Haryana, told reporters here Tuesday.

He refuted the allegation that BJP was following in the footsteps of Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi by laying stress on youth power. “We do not know about any other party, but the BJP is adopting this trend in every state.”

“We want youngsters to serve for another 20 years in the party, so we are catching them young. If they win today, it’s good. Otherwise, they get prepared for the future,” Goel added.

The BJP snapped its alliance with the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) in Haryana Aug 24 because of mounting differences over sharing of seats between the two parties.

This was the second time the INLD and BJP have parted ways in Haryana. They together contested the April-May Lok Sabha elections, but could not win a single seat.

Targeting the ruling Congress government in Haryana, Goel said: “The Congress is exploiting the state and using pubic money for their personal interest. They have spent nearly Rs.100 crore in advertising their projects and false accomplishments to woo the voters.”

He said on one side, the Congress talked about austerity and on the other it was wasting public money.

“We are very confident since we are contesting on all the 90 seats on our own. There is no possibility of any kind of alliance. Our candidates represent minorities and other sections of the society. Next week we will release the party’s manifesto,” said Goel.

The Bhupinder Singh Hooda-led Congress government got the assembly dissolved seven months ahead of the expiry of its term to seek early polls and a fresh mandate.

The Congress, which led in 59 assembly segments of the 90-member assembly in the general elections this May, won nine of ten Lok Sabha seats in the state.

“In Haryana, our direct fight is with the Congress and we want to uproot this corrupt government at any cost. They have failed on all the fronts. Hooda was talking about making Haryana a power-surplus state in just two years, but we are still power deficit,” Goel said.

The BJP leader added: “Inflation is on an all-time high and the Congress has not fulfilled its promises in the manifesto. There is no development in the areas of education, industries, employment and law and order situation.”

Haryana assembly elections are due Oct 13 and votes will be counted Oct 22.