All eyes on Kalayat, Kaithal poll results as legacies on the line
The Kaithal and Kalayat Assembly segments have emerged as focal points in the ongoing elections, drawing significant attention from voters and political analysts alike. The results in these two constituencies are seen as critical tests of political legacies for two prominent Congress MPs — Rajya Sabha MP Randeep Surjewala and Hisar MP Jai Parkash (JP) — whose sons are contesting the elections.
In Kaithal, Aditya Surjewala, the son of Randeep Surjewala, is challenging former MLA and BJP candidate Leela Ram. The Surjewala family has a deep political connection with Kaithal, with both Randeep and his father Shamsher Singh Surjewala having won the seat three times — in 2005, 2009, and 2014. Aditya is now trying to reclaim the family’s political stronghold, which suffered a setback in the last Assembly election when Randeep Surjewala lost by a narrow margin.
Political experts suggest that Aditya’s victory could boost the Congress’s presence in the region and solidify his standing as a key player in Haryana politics.
“Kaithal has traditionally been a Surjewala stronghold, but the last election saw a surprising loss for Randeep. This time, Aditya and his father have worked hard, and the results will reflect whether the Surjewala family can regain its political ground,” said Dr Kushal Pal, a political analyst and principal of Indira Gandhi National College, Ladwa.
In Kalayat, the electoral battlefield is equally intense. Vikas Saharan, the son of Hisar MP Jai Parkash, is vying for victory in a closely contested, four-way race. His rivals include BJP’s former MLA Kamlesh Dhanda, INLD’s state president Ram Pal Majra, and AAP’s senior state vice-president Anurag Dhanda. With such fierce competition, Kalayat is expected to be one of the most tightly contested segments in this election.
Jai Parkash, determined to secure a win for his son, is leveraging his extensive political experience. Jai Parkash previously won the Kalayat seat as an Independent candidate in 2014, and the outcome of this election will test his enduring influence in the region.
“The Kalayat contest is a crucial one for Vikas Saharan. His victory or defeat will signal whether the family can maintain its influence in the constituency amid the intense competition,” said Dr Ramji Lal, former principal of Dyal Singh College, Karnal, and a political expert.
