Parties make last-ditch efforts in Kalka segment

Political parties in both Kalka and Panchkula Assembly segments held jan sabhas and foot marches on the last day of campaigning, which ended this evening. Residents will cast their votes for the two seats on Saturday.

The Congress held a jan sabha in support of its candidate Pardeep Chaudhary. Deepender Hooda, Congress MP and son of former CM of Haryana Bhupinder Singh Hooda, today reached the Kalka segment in support of Chaudhary. Hundreds of party workers and residents of the city gathered to listen to him.

Addressing the gathering, Hooda said he had a word with Chaudhary past midnight and decided to be in Kalka in the morning. He said, “We have reports that Pardeep Chaudhary is winning the election from Kalka. Therefore, I decided to come here to congratulate him.”

Hooda claimed that the Congress was going to form the government in Haryana. “The BJP has pushed Haryana to the forefront in unemployment, illegal activities of drug menace, violence and immigration to other countries. They have put a full stop on development and happiness in the state,” he said.

The MP said the Congress would spread happiness on forming the government in the state and work for all people. “We will increase the old age pension and monthly payments for women. We will provide gas cylinder for Rs 500, health insurance cover of up to Rs 25 lakh, plots to BPL families and 300 units of free electricity on the lines of Delhi,” he said, adding that people should vote to ensure that the BJP was removed from the political landscape of Haryana.

He heaped praises on Chaudhary and sought local leaders of the Congress to come together and support him.

In a show of strength, BJP candidate for Kalka Shakti Rani Sharma held a march on the concluding day of campaigning for the Assembly elections. Her husband Venod Sharma went door-to-door and sought people’s support.

Sharma sat in an open vehicle as the march began from the Kalka grain market. Former Union Minister Venod Sharma and his son MP Kartikeya Sharma joined in later. Youngsters were among workers and supporters carrying BJP flags and wearing party caps who participated in the foot march in large numbers. They raised slogans in the party and Shakti Rani’s support. The crowd swelled as hundreds of people joined the march in Pinjore and Raipur Rani.

People gathered in balconies and on rooftop of houses to witness the show. Those walking with Sharma’s vehicle had to keep others at bay with ropes as youngsters, men and women in the gathering danced to the tunes of Haryanvi songs written in her support.

Addressing the gathering, Kartikeya Sharma said, “We are witnessing a huge gathering of people in support of Shakti Rani Sharma. This shows that the people of Kalka have decided that BJP will register a victory in the elections.”