Assandh all set for close contest

BJP rebel former MLA Zile Ram Sharma makes battle more interesting

Parveen Arora Tribune News Service Karnal, September 23 The Assandh Assembly segment has turned into a stage for a high-stakes battle, with candidates leaving no stone unturned in their efforts to secure victory. The Congress has fielded former MLA Shamsher Singh Gogi, while the BJP has chosen Yoginder Singh Rana, Gopal Singh Rana is contesting for the BSP, Amandeep Singh Jundla represents AAP, Maratha Virender Verma is running on the NCP ticket, and Independent candidate and former MLA Zile Ram Sharma has locked horns with the other contenders in a tight contest. The seat has witnessed close contest in the past three Assembly polls. In 2019, Congress candidate Zile Ram won by a margin of just 1,703 votes, while in 2014, BJP’s Bakhshish Singh Virk secured victory by 4,608 votes. In 2009, Haryana Janhit Congress (HJC) candidate won the seat by a margin of 3,540 votes. Congress candidate and sitting MLA Shamsher Singh Gogi is focusing on unemployment and the plight of farmers to connect with the youth and rural communities in Assandh. In his campaign speeches, Gogi has repeatedly criticised the BJP government for failing to generate sufficient employment opportunities, accusing the ruling party of neglecting the aspirations of the state’s young population. “We will provide two lakh permanent jobs to the youth if voted to power,” Gogi said while highlighting the Congress manifesto. He also blamed the BJP for forcing citizens to run from pillar to post to resolve issues with their property IDs and family IDs. BJP candidate Yoginder Singh Rana, energised by the rally led by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, is countering the Congress narrative by promoting the BJP’s record of providing jobs on merit. “We have provided jobs based on merit by abolishing ‘parchi kharchi’ (recommendation and bribe),” Rana said, emphasising the party’s focus on transparency in governance. The contest has become even more interesting with the entry of Zile Ram Sharma, a strong Brahmin face, running as an Independent candidate. Sharma has accused the BJP of betraying him by denying him the ticket. During his campaign, he has highlighted the development works initiated during his previous tenure in Assandh, when he was elected on the HJC ticket. “The BJP ignored me by not giving me the ticket. The people of Assandh will teach them a lesson. I have initiated several development projects for the constituency,” Sharma added. BSP candidate Gopal Singh Rana, a Rajput figure, added to the complexity and is posing a challenge for the BJP’s Yoginder Singh Rana, who is also a Rajput in a constituency where caste plays a crucial role., Updated At : 07:27 AM Sep 24, 2024 IST

BJP rebel Zile Ram Sharma during campaigning at a village.

The Assandh Assembly segment has turned into a stage for a high-stakes battle, with candidates leaving no stone unturned in their efforts to secure victory. The Congress has fielded former MLA Shamsher Singh Gogi, while the BJP has chosen Yoginder Singh Rana, Gopal Singh Rana is contesting for the BSP, Amandeep Singh Jundla represents AAP, Maratha Virender Verma is running on the NCP ticket, and Independent candidate and former MLA Zile Ram Sharma has locked horns with the other contenders in a tight contest.

‘Saffron party has betrayed me’
The contest has become even more interesting with the entry of Zile Ram Sharma, a strong Brahmin face, running as an Independent candidate. Sharma has accused the BJP of betraying him by denying him the ticket. During his campaign, he has highlighted the development works initiated during his previous tenure in Assandh, when he was elected on the HJC ticket.

Congress candidate Shamsher Singh Gogi with his supporters

The seat has witnessed close contest in the past three Assembly polls. In 2019, Congress candidate Zile Ram won by a margin of just 1,703 votes, while in 2014, BJP’s Bakhshish Singh Virk secured victory by 4,608 votes. In 2009, Haryana Janhit Congress (HJC) candidate won the seat by a margin of 3,540 votes.

BJP candidate Yoginder Singh Rana during a campaign

Congress candidate and sitting MLA Shamsher Singh Gogi is focusing on unemployment and the plight of farmers to connect with the youth and rural communities in Assandh.

In his campaign speeches, Gogi has repeatedly criticised the BJP government for failing to generate sufficient employment opportunities, accusing the ruling party of neglecting the aspirations of the state’s young population. “We will provide two lakh permanent jobs to the youth if voted to power,” Gogi said while highlighting the Congress manifesto. He also blamed the BJP for forcing citizens to run from pillar to post to resolve issues with their property IDs and family IDs.

BJP candidate Yoginder Singh Rana, energised by the rally led by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, is countering the Congress narrative by promoting the BJP’s record of providing jobs on merit. “We have provided jobs based on merit by abolishing ‘parchi kharchi’ (recommendation and bribe),” Rana said, emphasising the party’s focus on transparency in governance.

The contest has become even more interesting with the entry of Zile Ram Sharma, a strong Brahmin face, running as an Independent candidate.

Sharma has accused the BJP of betraying him by denying him the ticket. During his campaign, he has highlighted the development works initiated during his previous tenure in Assandh, when he was elected on the HJC ticket. “The BJP ignored me by not giving me the ticket. The people of Assandh will teach them a lesson. I have initiated several development projects for the constituency,” Sharma added.

BSP candidate Gopal Singh Rana, a Rajput figure, added to the complexity and is posing a challenge for the BJP’s Yoginder Singh Rana, who is also a Rajput in a constituency where caste plays a crucial role.