Khattar in damage-control mode amid rebellion in Karnal

Fearing defeat due to growing dissent in the Karnal Assembly seat, presently a CM City, former Chief Minister and Union Power Minister Manohar Lal Khattar reached the residence of former Mayor Renu Bala Gupta on Sunday. Earlier late on Saturday evening, CM Nayab Singh Saini attempted to placate Gupta after she expressed displeasure over the party’s decision to field Jagmohan Anand as the candidate from the Karnal Assembly seat.

Karnal, which has become a hotspot due to the increasing number of rebellions, was in the limelight after the arrival of Khattar at the residence of Gupta. Khattar asked them to work for the party candidate Jagmohan Anand, but Renu Bala Gupta, her husband Brij Gupta and supporters remained firm on their decision and informed Khattar that they would take the final decision after the meeting of supporters on September 10. “We have conveyed to former CM and Union Minister Khattar ji about our concern. We will take the final decision after a meeting of our supporters on September 10,” said former Mayor Gupta.

Khattar, while interacting with mediapersons, highlighted the role of the Gupta family in his and CM Saini’s victory and said, “The family members worked a lot with dedication for the party’s candidates in the Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha elections. I have asked them to work for the party’s candidate.”

“Such disagreements are common when large-scale decisions are made. Renu Bala Gupta had aspirations to contest this election. She, her husband and family members, had played an important role in my victory as well as in the victory of CM Saini,” she added.

She has a large team and they will take their decision on September 10. “I am hopeful that she will join us for ensuring the BJP’s third consecutive government in the state,” Khattar added.

Khattar also reached the residence of former councillor Mukesh Arora, who is also among the ticket aspirants from Karnal Assembly seat and was missing from the campaign of Jagmohan Anand. “In a democracy, several workers aspire to fight elections and they can even win, but ultimately, the parliamentary board has to decide while keeping in view all factors in play. We have reached out to most of them and will speak to the rest of them. I believe the decision by the party will be accepted by them,” he added. He made it clear that there will be no changes in candidates.