M A I N   N E W S

Independents queer the pitch
From Jatinder Sharma

ROHTAK, Feb 15 — The election scenario in the nine assembly segments that constitute Rohtak Parliamentary constituency, is confusing barely a week before polling.

While the fight is virtually a direct one between the Congress and INLD-BJP alliance candidates in Badli, Salhawas, Beri, Kalanaur, Meham and Kiloi, independents are working hard to force a triangular contest in the Rohtak, Hassangarh and Jhajjar (SC) constituencies.

Electioneering is still at a low key. During a nearly 150-km drive today, this correspondent did not witness even a single vehicle canvassing for any party candidate, however a few vehicles engaged by Independent candidates were out on the streets.

The contest between the INLD-BJP alliance candidates and Congress nominees appears neck and neck in almost every constituency except in Jhajjar, Hassangarh and Rohtak. In Jhajjar (SC), Mr Daryao Singh, an Independent seem to be surging ahead of his Congress and BJP rivals though the situation could change over the week.

The Congress President, Sonia Gandhi is visiting Jhajjar on February 19 to boost the party’s sagging morale in Jhajjar, Beri, Salhawas, Badli and Bahadurgarh constituencies.

BSP supremo, Mr Kanshi Ram is also visiting Jhajjar on February 20, although the candidates of his party do not pose a threat to Congress and INLD-BJP candidates.

The Congress nominee in Salhawas, Mrs Anita Yadav has made the going tough for INLD nominee, Mr Hukam Singh although the presence of independents and HVP and Samajvadi Party candidates is unlikely to influence the outcome.

Veteran Congress leader and party nominee from Kalanaur (SC), Mrs Kartar Devi is spending sleepless nights defending her constituency. She won from the constituency in 1982, 1991 and 1996 but Mrs Sarita Narayan of the BJP poses her a serious challenge to her retaining the seat. Interestingly the fact that Mrs Sarita is a political novice is attracting voters.

The PCC chief and Congress candidate Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda is also facing a tough contest from the INLD’s Dharam Pal Singh in Kiloi. Mr Dharam Pal too is also contesting his first assembly election. With the stakes high for both parties neither is leaving any thing to chance.

While the INLD candidate was successful in wooing a former Congress Minister Krishna Murti Hooda and Co-Convener of the PCC SC/ST cell, Mr Ram Mehar, the Congress candidate has won over Mr Sri Kishan Dass, an INLD MLA of the dissolved Assembly.

The situation is still fluid in Rohtak and Hassangarh where the independents are causing sleepless nights to party candidates. Both the Independent candidates, Mr Subhash Batra, a former minister in Rohtak and Mr Naresh Malik in Hassangarh, have launched aggressive campaigns.

Though INLD candidates in Badli and Meham seem to be ahead their Congress rivals are not far behind. Trends in these constituencies will become clearer as more voters come out of their shells.