Chandigarh, Aug 8 - For a politician who faces assembly elections only months later, Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda is sitting pretty. He is so confident of retaining power in the battle for the 90-member legislature that he refuses to announce populist measures that could fetch him many more votes.

'I never do anything keeping elections in mind. My government has taken a number of steps for the welfare of the people. People are satisfied, and I am happy and satisfied,' Hooda told IANS in an interview at his residence here.

'When I was taking decisions (earlier in my tenure), there were people who asked me why I was doing all this when elections were still far away. But I don't do things keeping an eye on elections,' he said.

Although assembly elections in Haryana are scheduled only in February next year, there are high chances that they might be advanced to October or November this year.

Hooda's confidence stems from the fact that the Congress in Haryana bagged nine out of 10 Lok Sabha seats in May this year.

'There is a possibility of early elections,' Hooda said. 'This could be in October with other states (like

Maharashtra). People are satisfied (with my government). Let's see.'

At home on a rainy day at his official residence, his morning game of tennis washed away, a very relaxed Hooda does not give the impression of a chief minister who is just weeks away from elections.

'I missed the game (of tennis) due to the rain. It was raining heavily, otherwise I would have gone to the (Sukhna) lake for a walk,' said Hooda, clad in a kurta and lungi.

Not only do the Hooda government and Congress party look strong, but by various accounts the opposition parties and its leaders in Haryana seem to be in disarray.

The main opposition Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) of former chief minister Om Prakash Chautala has been abandoned by senior leaders.