Describing the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) comprehensive victory in the by-election to the Jind Assembly Constituency as people’s faith in his government’s “transparent and graft-free governance and uniform development policy,” Haryana Chief Minister, Manohar Lal Khattar, on Thursday said the saffron party would win all the 10 seats in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections in the state.

Speaking to reporters at his residence, Khattar said the victory in Jind follows BJP’s victory in the recent civic polls in the state and the same trend will continue in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections.

The CM, however, maintained that the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections (due by October 2019) in the state would be held on time. “As of now there is no possibility of holding simultaneous elections to Lok Sabha and Assembly but in case any such suggestion comes from the Centre, the same could be considered,” he said.

Thanking people of Jind for ensuring BJP victory in the by-election, the CM said the win would certainly boost the confidence of party leaders and workers. He said that this win assumes a special significance as this is BJP’s first major victory in this area which is a clear indication of the fact that the people have accepted our working culture.

Khattar said that the present BJP government in the state has started a new political culture of keeping a check on corruption and ensuring uniformed development.

“The people were fed up with the large scale corruption and nepotism prevailing in the earlier regimes, be it in recruitment or transfers. For the last few years, the mood of the people in the country has changed significantly and they have expressed their faith in the policies and programmes of the BJP,” he added.

Stating that by ensuring the victory of BJP in the by-election, the people have disapproved caste-based politics of opposition. The CM said the opposition has resorted to caste-based politics in this by-election also but the BJP worked with the principle of Sabka Sath Sabka Vikas and garner support of all sections of the society. “The people have put their stamp on the uniform development ensured by the present BJP government in the state,” Khattar said.

“The opposition parties tried to give caste colour in this by-election but we have worked by rising above the consideration of caste and religion. We are working with the motto of only development and justice and no discrimination. Besides the urban voters, the people of rural areas also overwhelmingly supported the BJP in this election,” he said.

On being asked about any possibility of BJP forming any alliance during the ensuing Assembly elections in the state, the CM said that BJP has left the politics of alliance in 2014 when the party fought independently on all 90 assembly seats in the state. “The BJP would go in poll alone this time also but in case any political equation arises, the same would be considered at the time of elections,” he added.

Khattar said Jind is the centre of Haryana and BJP’s win in Jind by-election would further strengthen its position in central and western Haryana.