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Cong gets cold feet on Haryana polls

By A Correspondent in New Delhi
Last updated on: June 23, 2009 18:45 IST
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The Congress has developed cold feet on advancing the assembly elections in ruling state Haryana in October, when three other states of Maharashtra, Jharkhand and Arunachal Pradesh are also scheduled for the polls.

Haryana Chief Minister Bhupendra Singh Hooda was canvassing for advancing the Haryana elections that are otherwise due next February to cash on the  Congress wave in the state in the Lok Sabha elections.

The party had won nine out of 10 Lok Sabha seats in Haryana while former CM Bhajan Lal, a Congress deserter who formed own party, won the tenth seat of Hissar.

The delay in the onset of monsoon is, however, worrying the Congress of an adverse impact in the agriculture dominated Haryana as it may dampen the farm output and may also lead to rise in the food prices.

Holding elections in such an adverse situation is fraught with the danger of the ruling Congress facing an anti-incumbency onslaught, party sources said.

Though there is still time for the monsoon to set in the state, the Congress is mulling at the meteorological department predicting a delayed and weak monsoon.

If the monsoon does not arrive in another ten days or if there is insufficient rainfall this year, farm production is bound to be affected as many parts of the state are still dependent on the rains despite high irrigation.

In such circumstances, the Chief Minister has told the Congress leadership that earlier plans of advancing the assembly polls to October may be dropped, as February will be a better time when the state may have good winter crops.

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A Correspondent in New Delhi