Claiming that there is a strong “pro-incumbency wave” in Haryana, Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda on Saturday said the ruling Congress is confidant of returning to power with a “thumping majority” in the October 13 state assembly polls.
“There is definitely a strong pro-incumbency wave. The people will vote for development...they will not be swayed by hollow promises of the Opposition. Once again, Opposition will have to bite dust and Congress will return to power with a thumping majority,” Mr. Hooda told PTI here.
Asked how many seats his party was eyeing, the chief minister who is seeking re-election from Garhi Sampla-Kiloi in his home district of Rohtak, said he would not like to predict any figure, but added it would be a clean sweep in the polls like in the last Lok Sabha elections.
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The Congress retained nine out of 10 parliamentary seats.
To cash-in on its good showing in the Lok Sabha elections, the Hooda government has advanced the assembly polls by seven months.
With no ruling party in Haryana returning to power since 1977, the Hooda regime is looking to break the jinx.
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Recently, the tie-up between INLD and BJP fell apart while the HJC-BSP alliance could last barely two months.
As against Congress’ win on 67 seats in 2005 assembly polls, INLD managed to win just nine while BJP got two seats in the 90-member House.