Two-time CM can't even be Leader of Opposition

CHANDIGARH: During his second straight term as the Haryana CM, Bhupinder Singh Hooda had to contend with fierce hostility from within Congress and opponents over various issues like lopsided development, misuse of change of land use (CLU) to favour big corporates, favouritism in selection for government jobs and corruption. These issues also cast their shadow on Hooda and Congress as the ruling party could win just 15 constituencies in the 90-seat assembly, slipping to third place behind BJP and INLD.
As a result, two-time CM Hooda can't even be the Leader of the Opposition in the state he ruled for more than nine years since March 2005. His much-touted 'Number 1 Haryana' slogan failed to cut ice with voters disgruntled with his governance. Even last-minute efforts like increasing old-age pension, hiking salaries of state government employees and forming the Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (HSGMC) couldn't help Hooda.
Of the 15 seats won by Congress, 10 assembly segments are part of the Rohtak and Sonipat constituencies, which are under the direct influence of Hooda. However, he suffered a big setback as BJP won from Rohtak, his hometown. The CM's loyalist, B B Batra, lost to Manish Grover by over 11,000 votes.
Alleged favours to Congress president Sonia Gandhi's son-in-law Robert Vadra in land deals and releasing land to Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust (RGCT) in 2009 might have kept Hooda in the good books of his party chief. These, however, made him the target of many others, including Congress leaders in the state.
Besides, senior Haryana Congress leaders Rao Inderjit Singh and Birender Singh, %who had accused Hooda of lopsided development, were often ignored by the party high %command in New Delhi, forcing them to shift loyalties. Both joined BJP. Another senior Congress leader Dharambir Singh revolted against Hooda and joined BJP in November 2013. He was elected as MP from Bhiwani this April. Hooda's closest confidant, Venod Sharma, also quit Congress to form Haryana Janchetna Party, signalling that the unrest against him had peaked.
Hooda often got the benefit of doubt from his party's high command each time a complaint was made against him, but the voters didn't extend him that privilege.