BJP goes all out to save Khattar, Saini’s bastion

As the Assembly election approaches, the BJP is leaving no stone unturned to retain its stronghold in the Karnal segment, the bastion of former Chief Minister and Union Power Minister Manohar Lal Khattar as well as of caretaker CM Nayab Singh Saini.

While Khattar had been elected MLA from this seat in 2014 and later in 2019, Saini had been elected from this seat as MLA in a byelection which was required after the resignation of Khattar from the post of MLA.

Presently, Khattar is representing the Karnal Lok Sabha seat as an MP. However, Saini’s seat has been changed to Ladwa, but as per the experts, the prestige of both Khattar and Saini is stake here.

To save this stronghold, the party has ramped up its campaign efforts, bringing in top leaders from both Haryana and the Union Government.

Apart from Khattar and Saini, Union Minister and Haryana election in-charge Dharmendra Pradhan, former minister Anurag Thakur, former minister Smriti Irani, Gorakhpur MP Ravi Kishan, Aligarh MP Satish Gautam and several other leaders have been campaigning here for the past several days.

Khattar has already held several meetings. Similarly, Pradhan has actively participated in the campaign by holding workers’ meetings. Saini has already addressed a couple of meetings here.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah has also addressed a rally in Kunjpura, where he sought votes for all the five candidates of the district.

The BJP has fielded former CM Khattar’s ex-media coordinator, Jagmohan Anand, who is contesting against two-time former MLA and Congress candidate Sumita Singh Virk. Political analysts consider it to be a tough contest for the BJP, due to which the saffron party is making huge efforts here.

“There are several candidates, but it seems to be a direct contest between the BJP and Congress. Congress’ Sumita Singh Virk has her own stronghold as she had served twice as MLA. She has already got support of several key leaders who have deserted the BJP and joined the Congress. BJP’s leadership has been camping here to retain its stronghold,” said Dr Kushal Pal, political analyst and principal, Indira Gandhi National College, Ladwa.

Big guns campaign

Besides Khattar and Saini, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, former Central ministers Anurag Thakur and Smriti Irani, Gorakhpur MP Ravi Kishan, Aligarh MP Satish Gautam and several other leaders have been campaigning in Karnal for past many days