The Political Observer Bureau | Chandigarh: As Haryana gears up for its assembly elections, the political landscape is rapidly evolving with new alliances and strategies coming into play. While the race for the Chief Minister’s post traditionally dominates the political discourse, this election season has witnessed an unusual spotlight on the position of Deputy Chief Minister (Deputy CM). Both major parties like the Congress and regional entities are now actively vying for this coveted role, using it as a strategic tool to woo crucial voter bases. Here’s a closer look at why the Deputy CM post has taken center stage in Haryana’s political arena and its potential ramifications.
How the Deputy CM Debate Was Set in Motion
The focus on the Deputy Chief Minister’s post first gained traction when Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati, during a rally in Uchana, made a significant political announcement. She declared that if the alliance between her BSP and the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) came to power, Haryana would have two Deputy Chief Ministers. This move, she explained, would ensure better representation of the Dalit and OBC or upper-caste communities.
This announcement holds particular importance, considering Haryana’s demographic composition. The Dalit community comprises approximately 20% of the state’s population, while upper castes account for about 10%. The promise of a Dalit Deputy CM, paired with one from the OBC or upper caste groups, aims to harness support from these critical voter bases. Following Mayawati’s announcement, the political calculus in the state began to shift, with other parties rethinking their electoral strategies.
Congress and Internal Dynamics Around the Deputy CM Post
The Congress party, which remains a key contender in Haryana, has also been caught up in discussions surrounding the Deputy CM post. Kumari Selja, a senior Dalit leader within the party, has been widely speculated as a potential Deputy CM candidate should the Congress form the government. However, in a decisive statement, Selja dismissed the speculations, asserting that she had no interest in the position.
Further stirring the pot, a video of Congress MLA Neeraj Sharma went viral, in which he stated that if Congress were to come to power, Bhupinder Singh Hooda would be the Chief Minister, and he himself would be Deputy CM. This internal competition within the Congress has intensified the conversation around the Deputy CM role, reflecting its growing importance in shaping the party’s electoral fortunes.
A Brief History: Deputy CMs in Haryana
Despite the current attention, the post of Deputy Chief Minister has rarely been a focal point in Haryana’s political history. The state has seen only six Deputy CMs to date. The first to hold the post was Chaudhary Chand Ram in 1967, under the leadership of Rao Birendra Singh. In 1977, Mangal Sen assumed the role in the Janata Party government, followed by Banarasi Das Gupta in the government of Devi Lal. Later, Hukum Singh served as Deputy CM in the Om Prakash Chautala administration. In 2005, Chandra Mohan, son of veteran leader Bhajan Lal, became Deputy CM under Bhupinder Singh Hooda.
The most recent instance was in 2019 when Dushyant Chautala, leader of the Jannayak Janta Party (JJP), became Deputy Chief Minister in the BJP-led coalition government under Manohar Lal Khattar. He served in the role for nearly four years, reflecting the position’s utility in alliance politics.
The Political Value of the Deputy CM Post
In Haryana, where caste dynamics play a crucial role in electoral outcomes, the post of Deputy CM serves as a powerful tool for political negotiation. By offering this position to key communities or coalition partners, parties aim to strike a delicate balance between diverse voter groups and cement their alliances.
This trend is not unique to Haryana. In Bihar, for instance, Nitish Kumar’s government featured two Deputy CMs from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), while Maharashtra’s current coalition government has both Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar serving as Deputy CMs, representing the BJP and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), respectively. The Andhra Pradesh government, led by Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, set a precedent by appointing five Deputy CMs between 2019 and 2024, each representing different caste and regional interests.
Constitutional Context: The Deputy CM Role
It is noteworthy that the Indian Constitution does not explicitly mention the post of Deputy Chief Minister. Article 164 provides for the appointment of the Chief Minister and Ministers but does not confer any special status or distinct powers on a Deputy CM. The position is largely symbolic, though in practice, the Deputy CM may preside over cabinet meetings in the absence of the Chief Minister, offering a degree of authority in the day-to-day workings of the government.
States with Deputy CMs: The Broader Picture
Currently, around 20 Deputy Chief Ministers are serving in 14 Indian states. In states like Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar, and Rajasthan, there are two Deputy CMs each, a reflection of how coalition dynamics often dictate the creation of these posts. In contrast, Congress-ruled states like Telangana, Karnataka, and Himachal Pradesh each have one Deputy CM. However, states like Kerala, West Bengal, Jharkhand, and Tamil Nadu have opted not to create the position at all, underscoring the flexibility and variability of the role across India’s federal structure.
Conclusion
As Haryana approaches its assembly elections, the Deputy CM post has become a crucial bargaining chip in the state’s political chessboard. Whether it is Mayawati and Abhay Chautala’s strategy to consolidate Dalit and OBC votes or Congress’s internal tussles over the role, the position has gained an unprecedented level of attention. In a state where caste plays a decisive role in shaping electoral outcomes, the Deputy CM post may well prove to be a determining factor in the formation of the next government. How the parties manage this political gamble will be key to navigating the complex terrain of Haryana’s politics, and its impact will be closely watched as the elections unfold.
