Prohibition has becomes an important election issue in Haryana, and except for die-hard supporters of Bansi Lal, everyone is critical. ``Bansi Lal's supporters made a fortune through illegal trafficking in liquor from neighbouring states of Punjab, Delhi, Rajasthan and U.P. Others were heavily taxed by the police. And if somebody was unable to pay up, he would be arrested. At least 1000 such cases are still pending trial,'' Joginder Singh claims.

He says he got the liquor contract courtesy a crony of Surendra Singh, Bansi Lal's son who was an MP from Bhiwani inthe dissolved House. But he won't vote for Surendra this time. ``I will support Ajay Chautala.''

Son of Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala, Ajay is pitted against Surendra in Bhiwani. Though both are Jats, influential members of the community have apparently thrown their weight behind Chautala this time. It seems to be a fight between the INLD-BJP alliance and the Congress in Bhiwani with Surendra lagging far behind.

Everywhere in Haryana Jats seem to be favouring the INLD-BJP alliance while Scheduled Castes are firmly behind the Congress. ``We are indebted to Bhajan Lal for he gave us land during his Chief Ministership,'' says Ram Singh of Talk village in Mahendragarh. Nobody else ever doled out favours to Scheduled Castes in Haryana and hence does not deserve their votes, he said.

Power supply is another issue that has cropped up. ``Bansi Lal not only reduced the power supply to villages from an average of 10-12 hours to seven-eight hours but also realised power dues forcibly,'' complained VarendraSoni of Narnaul. Farmers allege that before coming to power Bansi used to exhort them against paying their power dues. But after assuming power, he changed his tune. The farmers recall the firing on villagers agitating against the dwindling power supply at Mandiali.

People feel the INLD-BJP pact has brought together the rural (farmers) and urban (salaried and traders) voters. Did the BJP backstab Bansi Lal? Not many people are bothered. ``The BJP did us a major favour by toppling the highly unpopular Bansi Lal government,'' says Kishan Lal Sharma, a teacher in Sonepat. Wasn't the BJP equally responsible for the decisions taken by Bansi Lal? ``The BJP ministers were helpless spectators and had to abide by decisions taken by the Chief Minister,'' claims Nihal Singh of Hauska village near Bhiwandi.