Click to play videoNew Delhi: The victory march lost its sheen as soon as Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda realised that it wouldn't be easy to form a government this time round.
A worried Hooda worked overtime trying to get independent MLAs to support his party. Congress has seven independents in its kitty, but wants to play safe for independents can be powerful spoilers.
So, a hand was extended to all - even arch rial Kuldeep Bishnoi. However, the only condition was that no conditions can be attached by the independents once they join in the government at the state level.
Hooda said, "We will form the government and are ready to take help from anybody so long as there are no conditions attached to it."
The number one Haryana dream seems to have gone sour for the Congress. The party knows that forming a government with independent MLAs means it would be vulnerable to tantrums and more importantly, Hooda's clout - which was immense during the last five years - can be overshadowed by the party's below expectations performance this time.
There have been complaints against Hooda by some Congress leaders - complaints that he is autocratic and plays favourites. Many are now beginning to question his decision to prepone the elections and his hyped 'Number One Haryana' advertisements. However, Sonia Gandhi also knows that at the end of the day, Bhupinder Singh Hooda is perhaps the only Jat strongman who can keep his flock together.
Meanwhile, Haryana Congress Committee Chief, Phool Chand Mullana met the Governor on Friday and has staked his party's claim to form the government. He says they have the required numbers and that the party has submitted their letter for seven independents.
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