Hisar: The stage of a new Anna movement?

Things were different two months ago.  Anna went on a hunger strike and Congress without their unifier, Sonia Gandhi, fumbled. What followed was etched in our collective memories as ‘breaking news’. There was drama, violence, comedy and tragedy. A man set himself on fire (32 year old Dinesh Yadav from Bihar set himself on fire on August 23 in New Delhi as a part of the anti-corruption protests).  Meanwhile thousands expressed solidarity with Anna’s campaign against corruption. Anna was arrested, released; and went on a fast unto death. The Congress struck a deal with Anna, tabled the lokpal resolution in parliament and asked Anna to end his agitation. Anna agreed. And there was celebration. Since then Anna has engaged the media in a series of exclusive interviews from Ralegaon Siddi, and launched a blog. The politics, though was limited, the larger idea centred around spreading a message. With the launch of his campaign against the Congress in the Hisar poll, the theatrics has begun once more. Anna now calls for a ‘historic defeat’ of the Congress for not passing the Jan Lokpal Bill, though the winter session is yet to begin. [caption id=“attachment_103918” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“Anna in this file photo. Reuters.”]  [/caption] It’s a tough fight for Congress at Hisar. Three heavy weights are competing for Bhajan Lal’s stronghold. Congress has fielded three-time MP from Hisar, Jai Prakash (58). He is pitted against Haryana Janhit Congress’ Kuldeep Bishnoi (42) whose party is the main opposition in Haryana besides INLD’s Ajay Singh Chautala (50). Anna wants the Congress defeated. An interesting proposition for the party doesn’t have much to lose; it has never won from Hisar, except under Bhajan Lal. Present Congress candidate Jai Prakash lost to Bhajan Lal in the 2009 election. The Congress still has it knees knocking. Bishnoi’s or Chautala’ s victory will not upset the Congress as much as Jai Prakash’s loss will. ‘Defeat the Congress,’ but who ought win? Chautala with a case of disproportionate assets case against him or Kuldeep Bishnoi with his muscles? In a state dominated by caste and community based politics Anna’s constant tirade against the Congress comes without any critical outlook. The Congress on the other hand knows that it is a non existent entity in Hisar. Bypoll for the party has symbolic implications. A defeat might put more pressure on the party in parliament, while Anna 2.0 hits our screens. Hisar, which is Arabic means ‘Fort’, will neve be the same again. It has been monumentally breached and is very likely to begin Anna’s new momentum.