Ex-ministers from Hisar region face tough battle

All eyes are on key constituencies in Hisar Commissionerate, which held the largest share of ministerial positions during the BJP-JJP coalition government, with five ministers from the region’s 20 Assembly seats across Hisar, Jind, Fatehabad, and Sirsa districts.

The political fate of Hisar MLA and minister Kamal Gupta, along with former JJP ministers Dushyant Chautala (ex-Deputy CM), Anoop Dhanak, Devender Babli, and Independent candidate Ranjit Singh, was sealed in EVMs today. Additionally, the region had the post of Deputy Speaker with Nalwa MLA Ranbir Singh Gangwa, who contested from Barwala this time.

During the BJP-JJP government, Hisar Commissionerate had the highest ministerial representation among Haryana’s six commissionerates, with five ministers. In comparison, Ambala had three ministers, while Gurugram and Karnal had two each. Faridabad and Rohtak had one minister each. After the BJP and JJP split, Hisar’s ministerial representation dropped to two — Kamal Gupta and Ranjit Singh, who were retained in the Cabinet.

Ground reports indicate that many of these former ministers face a tough battle in the Assembly polls. Dushyant Chautala, JJP candidate from Uchana in Jind district, and Devender Babli and Anoop Dhanak, both of whom switched to the BJP and contested from Tohana and Uklana (reserved), respectively, are struggling amid backlash from the farmers’ protests. Ranjit Singh, who lost the Hisar Lok Sabha contest as a BJP candidate, is now contesting independently from Rania (Sirsa) and also finds himself in a difficult position.

Political experts suggest that ministers who served in the Khattar Cabinet are encountering strong anti-incumbency sentiments.