JJP extends support to BJP rebel Radha Ahlawat contesting as Independent

The Meham Assembly segment in Rohtak district, which is considered a key constituency in the state, is all set to witness a multi-cornered contest in these elections.

A BJP rebel and a former INLD MLA contesting as Independent candidates, apart from the AAP candidate, have put the top contenders, including the sitting MLA as well as the Congress and BJP nominees, in a tight spot in the Meham constituency.

Meanwhile, the JJP today extended support to Radha Ahlawat, the wife of BJP rebel Shamsher Kharkara.

Kharkara, who contested the last two elections from Meham and wanted the party ticket for his wife Radha Ahlawat this time, has fielded her as an Independent candidate as she was denied the BJP ticket.

The sitting MLA from the constituency, Balraj Kundu, contested the election as an Independent candidate after revolting against the BJP in the last Assembly elections of 2019. Following that, he formed a political party named the Haryana Jansewak Party, and was contesting as its nominee this time.

Kundu is being challenged by Congress candidate Balram Dangi, BJP nominee Deepak Hooda, BJP rebel Shamsher Kharkara’s wife Radha Ahlawat (Independent), AAP candidate Vikas Nehra and former MLA Bali Pahalwan (Independent).

Though the main contest is likely to be between Kundu and Dangi, the presence of BJP and AAP nominees as well as Independents Radha Ahlawat and Bali Pahalwan has made the fight multi-cornered.

“It will be a close fight as all contestants will get a certain chunk of votes. In the given circumstances, the election result will depend on the number of votes polled by those candidates who are not in a winning position themselves, but may benefit or harm the prospects of the top contenders,” observes Dr Jagbir Narwal, a Professor of Public Administration at Maharshi Dayanand University (MDU) in Rohtak.

Congress nominee Balram Dangi is the son of former Haryana minister and prominent local leader Anand Singh Dangi, who has represented the constituency in the state Assembly four times.

International boxer Sweety Boora is managing the election campaign of her husband and former Indian kabaddi team captain Deepak Hooda, who is contesting as the BJP candidate.

“You should vote for someone who is from among yourselves, and not the dynastic leaders who stay in air-conditioned rooms of their palaces and consider you lower to them,” Sweety said while addressing an election meeting at Meham.

The AAP nominee, Vikas Nehra, is also likely to garner votes from his native village Nindana and adjoining areas in the constituency.