GT Road belt turns saffron again, BJP reclaims 18 out of 29 seats
Parveen Arora & Mukesh Tandon
In a significant turnaround, the BJP has secured victory in 18 out of 29 seats in the GT Road belt, which spans seven districts: Panchkula, Ambala, Kurukshetra, Yamunanagar, Karnal, Panipat, and Sonepat. This area is traditionally non-Jat dominated and is regarded as a political stronghold capable of influencing government formation.
Saini set to stay CM, Modi dials him
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi dialled Nayab Saini to congratulate him on the win in the Assembly poll which BJP leaders described as “well-earned and deserved one, given the short time Saini was given to make a difference”. All day on Tuesday, top BJP leaders huddled at the residence of Union Minister ML Khattar in Delhi to discuss the way forward. On Saini as CM, Khattar indicated it was a given but added: “Our parliamentary board will take the decision.”
While Congress was previously dominant in this region, the BJP made inroads in 2014 elections by winning 22 seats. However, its performance declined in 2019, with only 14 seats secured. The Congress had won six seats in 2014, along with one each by the INLD and an Independent candidate. In the 2019 elections, the Congress improved its standing with 13 seats, along with one each for the JJP and an Independent candidate.
To regain its foothold, the BJP undertook extensive campaigning, featuring rallies led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Ministers Amit Shah and Nitin Gadkari, and other senior leaders, including former Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, party election in-charge Dharmendra Pradhan, and UP CM Yogi Adityanath.
The BJP’s successful candidates in this election include those from Kalka, Ambala Cantt, Yamunanagar, Radaur, Ladwa, Nilokheri, Indri, Karnal, Gharaunda, Assandh, Panipat Rural, Panipat City, Israna, Samalkha, Rai, Kharkhoda, Sonepat, and Gohana. The Congress secured wins in Panchkula, Naraingarh, Ambala City, Mullana, Sadhaura, Jagadhri, Shahabad, Thanesar, Pehowa, and Baroda.
Political experts emphasise the significance of the GT Road belt in the BJP’s retention of power from 2014 onwards, and the historical role it played for Congress before that. Dr Kushal Pal, principal, Indira Gandhi National College in Ladwa, said, “Amid the anti-incumbency and the wave in favour of the Congress, the BJP regained its lost ground on the GT Road belt. The team spirit of the BJP workers and leaders, along with the boosted campaign from top leadership, contributed to the party’s win.”
