Caste factor crucial in Karnal mayoral poll

Parveen Arora

The caste factor plays a decisive role in the electoral politics of Haryana. Even political parties allocate ticket to maintain the caste equation in various constituencies, Karnal no exception.

The Karnal Municipal Corporation (KMC) elections are scheduled for December 16. Only the BJP is contesting  the elections on the party symbol, while the INLD-BSP alliance and the Congress have not fielded their candidates.

Political pundits say caste and social combinations will play a decisive role in the Karnal MC elections. Dominated by voters belonging to the Punjabi community, Karnal may witness a tough contest on the Mayor’s post.

BJP mayoral candidate Renu Bala Gupta, who was Mayor in the previous term, Independent candidate Asha Wadhwa, wife of former Deputy Mayor Manoj Wadhwa; Beant Kaur, wife of former councillor Balwinder Singh; and Komal Chandel are some prominent mayoral candidates. Renu Bala Gupta belongs to the Aggarwal community, Asha Wadhwa is from the Punjabi Arora community, Beant Kaur is a Jat Sikh, while Komal Chandel belongs to the Backward Castes category.

The BSP-INLD alliance is supporting Independent candidate Asha Wadhwa. Sources say Congress bigwigs, including two-time former MLA Sumita Singh, are also supporting Asha. Manoj Wadhwa, who had contested the last Assembly elections against Manohar Lal Khattar, says some BJP leaders are also supporting his wife. Kurukshetra MP Raj Kumar Saini’s Loktantra Suraksha Party is supporting Independent candidate Komal Chandel.

However, a survey indicates that the contest may be mainly between Renu Bala Gupta and Asha Wadhwa.

Dominant Punjabi community

The dominance of Punjabi community voters may be gauged from the fact that MP Ashwini Chopra and Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, who is an MLA from the Karnal Assembly seat, won the elections in 2014.

In the last Assembly elections, Khattar secured 82,485 votes and won the seat with a record margin of 63,773 votes. He defeated Independent candidate and former minister Jai Parkash Gupta, who got 18,712 votes. INLD leader Manoj Wadhwa was third with 17,685 votes, while Congress candidate Surender Narwal secured 12,804 votes and stood fourth.

The BJP had contested the last KMC elections in 2013 under the supervision of Manohar Lal Khattar, who was then the party observer for the elections. The BJP had contested 18 out of 20 seats and had left two seats for alliance partner Haryana Janhit Congress (HJC). The BJP had won only three seats, while the Congress supported six candidates and two INLD candidates had won. Renu Bala Gupta had contested the KMC elections as an Independent candidate and was elected Mayor. BJP councillor Krishan Garg was elected Senior Deputy Mayor, while INLD councillor Manoj Wadhwa was elected Deputy Mayor. After sometime, the Mayor and eight other councillors had joined the BJP.

Not a cakewalk for BJP

A political analyst says this time it will not a cakewalk for the BJP, as its candidate is fighting against a united Opposition. The INLD-BSP alliance is supporting Asha Wadhwa, who also has the support of Congress leaders. Karnal being the Chief Minister’s constituency, his prestige is also at stake.

Political analysts say the Chief Minister and his Cabinet will make all efforts to ensure the victory of the party candidate with a big margin. The Chief Minister has to face anti-incumbency in the mayoral election. People are reportedly unhappy over the poor condition of roads and non-completion of several big projects.  

Experts say the followers of Dera Sacha Suada head Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh may also influence the result of the mayoral election. The BJP is banking on development works being done by the state government, while the Opposition candidates are exposing the poor performance of the government.

“I am seeking votes on development works being done by the state government led by Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar. Karnal has been included in the Smart City project and also in the NCR during the BJP regime,” says Renu Bala.

Asha Wadhwa says Karnal being the Chief Minister’s city is the face of the state, but it depicts a picture of neglect. No major project has been started in Karnal. “I am highlighting the failures of the government at all fronts,” she adds.

Voters’ Vount 

General category 

Punjabi Arora Khatri 52, 453

Aggarwal  21,480

Brahmin  17,561

Jat 12,423

Jat Sikh 8,845

Ror 13,918

Rajput 8,615

Muslim 1,932

Christian 1,009 

Bishnoi 137

Total  138,373

Backward Castes  

Jhiwar 8,011

Pal    7,937

Saini 5,719

Sunar 5,008

Kamboj 3,736

Sain 3,762

Lohar 3,570

Gurjar 2,137

Khati 3,003

Kumhar 3,652

Dhobi 2,136

Darji 2,258

Rai Sikh 613

Labana Sikh 1,142

Jogi 2,790

Bhatt 750

Teli 308

Dakaut 1,085

Ahir 1,191

Goswami 812

Sorgir 137

Banjara 470

Ramgarhia Sikh 562

Beragi 963

Bharbhuja 491

Total    62,243

Scheduled Castes

Harijan 13,152

Balmiki 10,787

Pasi 3,275

Migrants from Bihar 4,630

Majbi Sikh 848

Khatik 2,172

Doom 649

Deha 1,701

Migrants from Nepal 1,315

Migrants from Chennai 904

Julaha 1,015

Sansi 860

Kabirpanthi 855

Bazigar 300

Migrants from West Bengal 390

Dhanak 916

Od 866

Sikligar 81

Nut 462

Spera 42

Total    45,220

Number of voters (2018) 245,836  

Number of voters (2013) 208,794 

New voters 37,042