BJP’s strategy to field new faces failed to click in Rohtak, Jhajjar

The BJP’ strategy to field new faces from six of the eight Assembly constituencies of Rohtak and Jhajjar districts failed to help it make inroads into the citadel of former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda.

It was for the second time in a row that the saffron party could not open its account in the two districts. However, BJP’s Manish Kumar Grover again gave a tough fight to his arch rival and Congress candidate Bharat Bhushan Batra in the Rohtak seat.

Grover lost the electoral battle by a margin of just 1,341 votes. In 2019, Grover had lost by 2,735 votes.

In Rohtak district, the BJP pitted new faces from the Garhi Sampla Kiloi, Meham and Kalanaur (reserved) seats. Manju Hooda, chairperson of the Rohtak Zila Parishad, was fielded against Congress stalwart Hooda. She polled 37,074 votes. This was 1.72 per cent less than the votes bagged by the BJP candidate in the previous election.

Similarly, Renu Dabla, former chairperson, Rohtak Municipal Corporation, took on the Congress’ three-time MLA Shakuntla Khatak at Kalanaur and former Indian kabaddi team skipper Deepak Hooda contested from Meham.

Performing dismally, Deepak finished fourth, getting merely 5.97 per cent votes. In the last elections, BJP candidate Shamsher Kharkara had secured 25.86 per cent votes. Kharkara’s wife Radha Ahlawat too joined the fray as an Independent after being denied the BJP ticket. She bagged 19.54 per cent of the total votes, causing a major dent to the saffron party.

In Jhajjar district, the BJP fielded new faces Dinesh Kaushik from Bahadurgarh, Sanjay Kablana from Beri and Kaptan Singh Birdhana from Jhajjar (reserved), but they could not improve on the party’s previous performance in the election.

“The BJP did not have many options in Rohtak and Jhajjar districts except to field new faces on the majority of the seats. The move will help in grooming a team of young leaders to strengthen the party cadre,” said a political analyst.