After 56 yrs, Sriganganagar votes for an Independent

Raj Sadosh

Abohar, December 12

It was in 1962 that voters in Sriganganagar — known as “Punjab of Rajasthan” — elected Prof Kedar Nath, a socialist who contested Vidhan Sabha election as Independent. This time Raj Kumar Gaur, former chairman of Urban Improvement Trust and veteran Congress leader, has been elected as an Independent. He got 49,998 votes and defeated Ashok Chandak who had joined the Congress a few months back by a margin of 14,180 votes. Outgoing billionaire legislator Kamini Jindal, who had got 77,600 votes in 2013, nosedived to 4,087 votes this time. Former minister Radheyshyam could get only 2,318 votes in the last attempt. Another high-profile candidate Prahlad Tank, who had organised a separate rally to welcome Vasundhara Raje during her Rath Yatra, was also among those who lost their security deposit. He quit the BJP to contest as a BSP candidate. BJP nominee Vinita Ahuja marginally saved her security deposit. Her poll campaign was managed by former Punjab minister Surjit Jyani and Abohar BJP MLA Arun Narang. In six constituencies in Sriganganagar district, the number of NOTA voters in EVMs was 10,502 whereas 73 who mailed postal ballots too found none of the candidates fit for vote.

Gaur said, “I have had a decade-old association with the Congress and served on important positions. Loyalty stands unchanged in principle.”

Among the winners in twin districts of Sriganganagar and Hanumangarh, Jagdish Jangid of Sadulshehar had his roots in Abohar as his family had few years ago shifted from the College Road residence here to Sadulshehar. Jangid had lost in 2013 but won this time.

Vinod Kumar Chaudhary (Congress), who wrested back Hanumangarh seat from former minister Dr Ram Pratap Sahu (BJP), got married in a village near Abohar. He is related to PPCC president Sunil Jakhar also. Sunil’s nephew Sandeep Jakhar was among the star campaigners for Vinod.