BEATING THE ODDS

Haryana results show that effective messaging, targeted outreach and the ability to manipulate a divided opposition can tackle anti-incumbency

- MOHIT SHARMA

"A WEEK IS A long time in politics," said former British prime minister Harold Wilson. His words rung true in Haryana on October 8, as the ruling BJP, in a major turn of events, created history by scoring a hat-trick win in the agrarian state, defying all predictions. It won 48 seats, eight more than it got last time, comfortably crossing the half way mark in the 90-member assembly.

Most observers got it wrong as they predicted a Congress win as the situation on the ground suggested strong anti-incumbency against the BJP, fuelled by discontent among the dominant Jat community, the wrestlers' protest, opposition to the Agnipath scheme and rising unemployment.

What then turned the tide? Many believe that the shift began with the "parchi-kharchi" jibe by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a rally in Kurukshetra on September 27. It referred to the 10-year Congress rule in the state, from 2004 to 2014, when jobs allegedly could be secured only through recommendation or bribes.