ASSEMBLY POLL 2024: In Pundri segment, Independent candidates remain priority of voters

Tribune News Service

Kaithal, August 20

The Pundri Assembly segment in Kaithal district has a unique voting pattern, it has elected Independent candidates in seven out of 13 elections held so far. The trend reflects the voters’ preference for candidates outside the mainstream political parties, often favouring local leaders who align closely with their needs and concerns.

The Congress party has won four times on this seat, while the Janata Party and Lok Dal have won once each. The constituency is predominantly influenced by the Ror community.

After Haryana came into existence, Kaithal witnessed its first election in 1967, which was won by RP Singh of the Congress. Independent candidate Ishwar Singh won the election in 1968, which was the first move of the voters from established political parties. Ishwar Singh won the seat on the Congress ticket in 1972. In the 1977 elections, Agnivesh won the Janata Party seat, reflecting the anti-Congress wave prevalent during the Emergency period. In 1982, Congress candidate Ishwar Singh returned to power in 1982. Makhan Singh won on the ticket of Lokdal in 1987. In 1991, Congress candidate Ishwar Singh won the election.

In the 1996 elections, voters of the Pundri assembly segment preferred independent candidates. Independent candidates Narender Sharma, Tejvir Singh, Dinesh Kaushik, Sultan Jadola, Dinesh Kaushik and Randhir Singh Gollen won in 1996, 2000, 2005, 2009, 2014 and 2019 respectively, which shows the continuous trend of the constituency’s preference for the Independents.

Sitting Independent MLA Randhir Singh Gollen from Pundri recently extended support to the Congress. He is yet to disclose his cards, but the Congress has a long list of potential candidates. Among them are former MLA Sultan Singh Jadaula, Satbir Jangra, Suresh Unispur, Suresh Ror, Pandit Kanwar Pal Karora, Sunita Devi Battan, Sujjan Singh Dhull, and Pardeep Kumar Chaudhary are among the 30 leaders seeking the ticket.

In the BJP, there are many ticket aspirants, including former MLA Tejvir Singh and former MLA Dinesh Kaushik, Karambir Kaul, Satpal and others.

As per the residents and political experts, several reasons contribute to this trend, including last-minute changes in the ticket distribution.

“The ticket distribution by the major political parties is one of the reasons behind this trend. Prominent leaders were promised tickets but were not given by the political parties, which forced them to contest as an Independent candidates. The rejection of tickets also led to sympathy for the candidates, which is why people preferred them,” said Dr Krishan Chand Rulhan, former professor at DAV College in Pundri and former Registrar of Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra.

Sanjay Kumar, a resident of Pundri, said the recent trend indicated people’s mistrust on political parties, who prefer alternative in the form of independent candidates.

Waterlogging key issue

Residents say the key demands include subdivisional status, resolution of waterlogging, setting up of industries and generation of employment for the youth.