Campaigning at peak, direct contest between BJP, Cong for Sonepat seat

Campaigning is at its peak in the Sonepat Assembly constituency. To win from here is a prestige issue for the ruling party as well as the Congress. After the withdrawal of nomination by BJP rebel and former media advisor to Chief Minister, Rajiv Jain, the contest seems to be between Congress and BJP candidates directly.

The BJP has fielded Mayor Nikhil Madaan from Sonepat while the Congress has trusted sitting MLA Surender Panwar. However, Panwar had been arrested by the Enforcement Directorate and was behind bars.

The BJP had won the seat five times — in 1977, 1982, 1987, 2009 and 2014 — while Mukhtyar Singh of Bharatiya Jana Sangh had won in 1968. BJP leader Devi Das led the constituency consecutively three times — 1977, 1982 and 1987. BJP leader Kavita Jain led the constituency in 2009 and 2014. Congress had won from here five times — including 1967, 1972, 1991, 2005 and 2019 — while Sonepat constituency was led by an Independent MLA Devraj Diwan in 1996 and 2000. Direct contests were seen among the BJP and Congress candidates in the last 25 years on this seat. However, this time the contest turned triangular after the entry of the BJP rebel in the electoral fray. But the CM persuaded him on September 16, on the last day of withdrawal of nomination. After a meeting with the CM, Jain withdrew his nomination and the contest again seemed to be between the Congress and BJP candidates.

Political experts said campaigning for the BJP and Congress was at peak and both were going to people directly. BJP candidate Nikhil Madaan, his family members and supporters are organising meetings daily to woo voters. Similarly, campaigning is on peak in the Congress camp. Though Congress candidate Surender Panwar is in jail, his daughter-in-law Samiksha Panwar is leading the campaigning. Political experts said the contest is going to be very interesting this time at Sonepat seat as it is very prestigious for the BJP as well as Congress. Samiksha Panwar held public meetings and door-to-door campaigns in Kabirpur, Garhi Ghasita, Kalan Mohalla, Geeta Bhawan Chowk, Saraswati Vihar, West Ram Nagar, and Tara Nagar on Wednesday. While addressing the gathering, she appealed to the voters to elect Congress candidate Surender Panwar. She said that Congress was going to form a government in the state on October 8.

On the other hand, Nikhil Madaan opened his election office in Gur Mandi and held public meetings in Kabirpur, Jeewan Nagar, Vikas Nagar, Sector 15, Shyam Nagar, and Kakroi Road. He appealed to the people to vote for him. He said lotus was going to bloom on the Sonepat seat as the people want to bring the BJP government consecutively for the third time in the state.