M A I N   N E W S

Caste likely to play dominant role
From K.G. Dutt
Tribune News Service

INDRI (Karnal), Feb 14 — This pre-dominantly rural constituency is witnessing a multi-cornered contest. As the polling day is drawing near, the campaign has reached its feverish pitch. But despite this, the voters are silent. There is no pro or anti wave against any candidate. Even debate on vital issues confronting Haryana is missing. The contest seems to revolve around personalities.

Caste consideration is also likely to play its role in deciding the fate of different candidates in the fray. The pre-dominant caste is Kamboj followed by Jats, Punjabis, backward classes, Brahmins and Natts who form core of the backward class vote.

For a number of years, the constituency remained a citadel of the Congress. But in the last elections, Mr Bhim Sen Mehta had won this seat as an Independent. In the 1992 poll, the seat was wrested by Mrs Janki Mann of the Haryana Vikas Party. In the present contest, Mr Randeep Singh Mann, a grandson of Mrs Janki Mann, is fighting on the Congress ticket. The Mann family has been serving this constituency for a number of years. Mr Surjit Singh Mann, father of Mr Randeep Mann was returned twice from this constituency on the Congress ticket. Mr Desraj Kamboj — a former Education Minister of Haryana was also elected from Indri. During this election, the Congress has denied the ticket to Mr Rakesh Kamboj — son of Mr Desraj Kamboj. This has led to discontentment among the Kamboj voters against the Congress, the Congress, therefore will have to depend on Jats, Sikhs, Brahmins, traditional backward classes and the Scheduled Castes.

Mr Bhim Sen Mehta, who won as an Independent last time has been a minister both in the Bansi Lal and Chautala governments. A soft spoken Punjabi, Mr Mehta did a lot for his constituents. Unfortunately, there is an undercurrent of resentment against him. The reason may be the anti-establishment factor operating in the constituency. But Mr Mehta has a very strong following amongst the Punjabi and others. During the last election, he had secured 20,930 votes against 15,598 secured by Mr Desraj Kamboj of the Congress.

The Haryana Vikas Party candidate Mr Ved Pal, a former Deputy Speaker of the Haryana Assembly, had then secured 12,773 votes. Mr Ved Pal is now contesting as a candidate of the Nationalist Congress Party. The BSP had put up Mr Dalbir Sandhu who had secured 15,663 votes. The Indian National Lok Dal candidate which then was known as Samata Party had got 14,109 votes.

The unique feature of the contest is that the Congress, the BSP and the INLD have given ticket to new faces.

There are numerous constraints in the way of the Congress, the INLD, the BSP and the Nationalist Congress Party candidates. The Congress candidate is a novice in the politics. He got the ticket despite strong opposition from former Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Bhajan Lal. Mr Mann is relative to Mr Harcharan Singh Brar, a former Chief Minister of Punjab as well as a former Governor. He also had links with the family of Mr Natwar Singh. Therefore, he enjoys a considerable clout in the party. But he will depend mainly on the work done by his father and grandmother in the constituency. He enjoys strong influence amongst the Jats in the area.

The INLD has never won this seat. In fact, it has tried various candidates and various methods to wrest the seat. In the last elections it had put up a Kamboj candidate. This year too Mr Chautala has nominated Mr Balkishan Kamboj as the INLD candidate. He had fought from this constituency in 1991 as an Independent. He can count on the support of the Kamboj biradari, Jats and Sikhs also. Mr Chautala visited the constituency extensively to seek support for Mr Balkishan. But Jats like Mr Angrej Singh were also hot contender of the INLD ticket. Therefore, Mr Kamboj will have to contend with the opposition from a section of the Jats.

Moreover, the BSP has put up Mr Kali Ram Kamboj as its candidate. The BSP candidate too has the support of Kambojs. The BSP has also strong backing of the backward classes.

Mr Ved Pal, a former Deputy Speaker of the Haryana Assembly is trying his luck for the second time from this constituency. He contested on the HVP ticket in the last poll. Now he is the president of the Haryana unit of the Nationalist Congress Party. He was the Chairman of the Haryana Agricultural Marketing Board during the Bansi Lal regime. During that period, he had done lot of work in this constituency. Mr Ved Pal is basically counting on the development work done by him in the constituency as the Chairman of the board. He is also a resident of the constituency and his ancestral village falls in it.

The HVP has put up Mr Balbir Singh Pal. As the credibility of the HVP is at its lowest ebb, Mr Pal has to work very hard amongst the voters. There are a number of Independents in the fray.

The balance is still in the hands of the Punjabi and Brahmin voters. Their tilt towards any candidate could decide the fate of the different parties in the fray.