A tough test for Chautala's party

<div class="section1"><div class="Normal">CHANDIGARH: Going to the electorate for votes after having governed the state for over four years is like appearing for the final examination.<br /><br />This is exactly the position in Haryana of the ruling Indian National Lok Dal (INLD), led by chief minister Om Prakash Chautala, which on one hand is facing the onslaught of the opposition, and on the other is under pressure to perform reasonably well in the Lok Sabha elections against all odds of incumbency so as to keep its government going till the Assembly elections scheduled to be held in March next year.<br /><br />Its another major handicap in this election is that the BJP is no longer its ally as was the case in the last parliamentary poll in which the two bagged five seats each.In fact, its tie-up with the BJP proved to be an ideal combination to harness both the urban and rural vote as it is by and large rural-based and the BJP urban based in the state.<br /><br />Knowing very well that the task this time is tough for his party, chief minister Chautala wasted no time in starting the election campaign.In fact, while other parties were still engaged in the nittygritty of selection of candidates, Chautala, who is the star campaigner of the party, had completed the first round of electioneer under which he visted almost every Assembly segment.In fact, party claims that before the polling takes place he will visit each and every village in the state.<br /><br /></div> </div><div class="section2"><div class="Normal"><br />Chautala has made development as the main plank of his election campaign.<br /><br />As such he loses no opportunity in telling the people at his public meetings that his government has implemented as many as 44, 000 developmental works under the "Sarkar Aap Ki Dwar" programme in the last four and a half years at a cost of Rs 25, 000 crore. There is no denying that it is a big achievement by any standards.<br /><br />Surprisingly, common man doesnot seem to be much impressed by all this, especially in urban areas of the state where the party is facing abit of opposition due to its policy of house tax, introduction of VAT and the local area development tax.<br /><br />The pesantry is also a bit unhappy with the party over its failure to fulfil the promise of providing free electricity and water as was promised by it on the eve of the last Lok Sabha elections.<br /><br />Farmers complain that Chautala had even promised to waive of their power arrears as well.on the contrary, they point out, the authorities are out to recover the arrears at any cost. Chautala has been trying to convince them of the goverrnment’s inability to write off power arrears under the law.<br /><br /><formid=526372></formid=526372></div> </div>