The Haryana Congress has demanded a detailed account of the election promises made by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), accusing Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini’s government of neglecting the state’s problems as it completes two years of its third consecutive term in power.
The principal opposition party launched a coordinated campaign on Wednesday, with senior leaders addressing press conferences at 13 locations to question the government’s performance since the October 2024 Assembly elections. Former chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda addressed the media in Delhi, while Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC) president Rao Narender Singh held a press conference in Sirsa.
The Congress sought a factual account of the BJP’s pre-election commitments, asking the government to disclose how many promises had been fulfilled, how many remained under implementation and when the outstanding commitments would be completed.
The party’s campaign, announced as the BJP government marked two years in office on October 17, focused on unemployment, farmers’ grievances, corruption, crime and the condition of public services. Congress leaders also accused the chief minister of giving greater attention to political engagements in neighbouring Punjab than to problems in Haryana.
Congress questions Saini’s focus on Haryana
Taking aim at Saini’s visits to Punjab, Rao Narender Singh said the people of Haryana had elected him to govern the state, but his political engagements appeared to give greater priority to Punjab politics.
“Haryana needs a full-time chief minister, not a part-time one, who remains present in the state, listens to the concerns of farmers, youth, traders, employees and ordinary citizens, and works to resolve them,” Singh said.
He questioned the government’s performance against the promises made before the 2024 Assembly elections, alleging that it had failed to adequately address the concerns of different sections of society.
The HPCC chief accused the state government of failing to maintain law and order and resolve farmers’ grievances. He also alleged that unemployment and corruption were increasing, while the government was struggling to deal with alleged scams, drug abuse and problems in the health sector.
Singh said people across Haryana continued to face difficulties linked to crime, unemployment, farmers’ issues, corruption and inadequate public services. He argued that the government should substantiate its claims of achievement by presenting a transparent account of its work.
Congress seeks details of MSP procurement and housing promises
The Congress has sought specific figures on two major commitments made by the BJP ahead of the Assembly elections: the procurement of 24 crops at the minimum support price (MSP) and the provision of five lakh houses in urban and rural areas.
Referring to the BJP’s claim that 24 crops were being procured at the MSP, Singh demanded that the government publish crop-wise procurement figures, the number of farmers who had benefited and the status of payments.
The party said the government should provide details showing whether procurement arrangements had delivered the promised benefits to farmers and how much produce had actually been purchased under the scheme.
Singh also asked the government to disclose the progress of its housing commitment. He sought figures on how many of the five lakh urban and rural houses promised by the BJP had been sanctioned, how many had been completed and how many had been handed over to beneficiaries.
The Congress argued that such information was necessary to assess the implementation of the government’s election commitments rather than relying on general claims about its achievements.
Opposition demands a time-bound account of commitments
The Congress said the government should explain the status of its promises to every section of society and establish clear timelines for completing those that remain pending.
“Instead of merely making claims about its achievements, the government must present a factual account of its election promises before the people,” Singh said.
“During the assembly elections, the BJP made major promises to every section of society. The government must now explain how many promises have been fulfilled, how many are under implementation and what timelines have been set for completing the remaining commitments.”
The party’s statewide campaign was intended to bring attention to what it described as unfulfilled promises and shortcomings in governance. The simultaneous press conferences across 13 locations formed part of its effort to question the BJP government’s record after two years in office.
The Congress’s demand for accountability comes as the state government prepares to present its own assessment of its performance. The BJP has previously said that 70 of the 217 commitments in its election manifesto had been fulfilled, with work under way on the remaining promises.
The opposing assessments have set the stage for a political contest over the government’s record, with the Congress demanding detailed figures and deadlines to establish how far the BJP has progressed in delivering on its electoral commitments.