Setback for Hooda asbBJP's Valmiki wins Rohtak mayoral election

The recent Rohtak mayoral election resulted in a significant victory for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), as Ram Avtar Valmiki defeated Congress candidate Suraj Mal Kiloi by a large margin. This defeat is seen as a major setback for Bhupinder Singh Hooda, the former chief minister of Haryana and a senior Congress leader. The loss comes despite Congress winning all four assembly seats in Rohtak during the state elections held in October 2024.

BJP’s big win in Rohtak

The Rohtak mayoral election was held on March 12, 2025, and the results were declared the next day. Ram Avtar Valmiki secured 1,02,269 votes, while his opponent from Congress, Suraj Mal Kiloi, managed to get only 57,071 votes. This gave Valmiki a victory margin of 45,198 votes, making it a clear win for the BJP.

The victory is considered politically important because Rohtak has traditionally been a stronghold of the Congress party. Bhupinder Singh Hooda has had a strong influence in this region for decades, and his family has maintained political dominance in Rohtak for years.

However, the BJP managed to break this pattern with Valmiki’s win. The BJP’s success in the mayoral election has raised questions about the future of Congress in Rohtak and the strength of Hooda’s leadership in the region.

Ram Avtar Valmiki has been an active politician for many years. He previously contested the assembly elections from the Kalanaur (SC) seat in Rohtak in 2009, 2014, and 2019, but lost all three times. Despite these defeats, he remained active in local politics and earned the trust of the BJP leadership.

After his victory in the Rohtak mayoral election, Valmiki thanked the people of Rohtak and the BJP workers for their support. He said that the victory reflects the faith of the people in the BJP’s ideology and development plans.

Valmiki described his win as a result of the "triple engine government" – referring to the BJP’s control at the central, state, and local levels. He promised to speed up development work in Rohtak and ensure that all the promises made during the election campaign would be fulfilled.

Political impact of the result

The loss in Rohtak is seen as a significant setback for Bhupinder Singh Hooda. Rohtak has been considered a Congress stronghold for decades, and Hooda’s family has maintained political dominance in the region. Hooda himself served as the chief minister of Haryana from 2005 to 2014 and has represented the Rohtak assembly seat multiple times.

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Congress had won all four assembly seats in Rohtak during the October 2024 state elections, which boosted the party’s confidence in the region. However, the mayoral election results suggest that the political mood in Rohtak might be shifting in favor of the BJP.

Reasons for BJP’s victory

Several factors contributed to the BJP’s success in the Rohtak mayoral election:

1. Strong campaign strategy – The BJP focused on local issues such as infrastructure, sanitation, and road development.
2. Central and state support – The BJP’s position at both the central and state levels helped strengthen the party’s influence in Rohtak.
3. Voter dissatisfaction with Congress – Despite Congress’s victory in the assembly elections, many voters were reportedly unhappy with the party’s performance at the local level.
4. Valmiki’s personal appeal – Valmiki’s focus on local issues and direct interaction with the people helped him gain voter confidence.

Congress’s poor performance in the mayoral election reflects a larger political problem for the party in Haryana. Despite winning the assembly seats, Congress has struggled to maintain voter support at the local level.

Some political analysts believe that Congress’s campaign lacked focus and failed to address key local issues. The BJP’s focus on development projects and its promise of faster implementation of civic projects may have influenced voter decisions.

Bhupinder Singh Hooda’s absence from active campaigning for the mayoral election may have also hurt Congress’s chances. His strong personal influence in Rohtak has traditionally helped the party maintain its hold over the region, but his limited involvement in the mayoral campaign created a leadership gap.

BJP’s focus on development

After winning the mayoral election, Ram Avtar Valmiki emphasized that the BJP would focus on improving infrastructure and public services in Rohtak. He highlighted the party’s plan to improve roads, sanitation, and water supply in the city.

Valmiki also promised to address issues such as traffic congestion, waste management, and street lighting. He said that the BJP would work closely with the state and central governments to secure funding and support for major infrastructure projects.

"The people of Rohtak have shown their faith in the BJP. We will not let them down," Valmiki said.

Following the BJP’s victory, Bhupinder Singh Hooda admitted that the result was disappointing for Congress. However, he said that the party would carefully analyze the reasons behind the loss and work on rebuilding voter confidence.

Hooda also accused the BJP of using government resources to influence the election outcome. He said that the Congress party would continue to fight for the people’s issues and hold the BJP government accountable for its promises.

On the other hand, senior BJP leaders congratulated Valmiki and called the victory a sign of growing public support for the party. Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini said that the result reflects the success of the BJP’s policies and governance model.

"This victory shows that the people of Rohtak trust the BJP’s leadership and development plans. We will continue to work for the welfare of the people," Saini said.

The outcome of the Rohtak mayoral election could have a long-term political impact in Haryana. The BJP’s success in Rohtak gives the party a strategic advantage in the state’s political landscape.

Congress, on the other hand, will need to rebuild its voter base and regain public trust. Hooda’s leadership will come under increased pressure, and the party will need to rethink its strategy for future elections.

Political experts believe that the BJP will now focus on consolidating its position in Rohtak and other Congress strongholds. The party’s ability to deliver on its promises and maintain voter satisfaction will be key to securing future electoral victories.

Congress is expected to launch a renewed campaign focusing on local issues and highlighting the failures of the BJP government at the state level. However, Hooda’s political influence and the party’s organizational strength will be tested in the coming months.

The Rohtak mayoral election has changed the political equation in Haryana. The BJP’s decisive win reflects a shift in voter sentiment and increases pressure on Congress to strengthen its local presence.

Ram Avtar Valmiki’s victory marks a new chapter for the BJP in Rohtak. His success in securing a large margin of victory signals growing public confidence in the party’s leadership and development plans.

The political battle between Congress and BJP in Haryana is far from over. Both parties are now preparing for future elections, with Rohtak set to remain a key political battleground in the state.