Rebels may upset Haryana poll arithmetic
Independent candidates, who have on several occasions played the role of kingmakers by helping different parties form the government in Haryana, are making the headlines this time even before the elections.
As many as 462 such candidates are contesting from 90 constituencies across the state. Many of them are Congress and BJP leaders, who revolted against their parties on being denied the ticket.
Referring to them as “vote-cutters”, both parties are urging voters not to vote for them. “Acknowledging the threat” posed by rebel candidates, Home Minister Amit Shah at a rally in Karnal on Sunday urged the voters to stay united and focus on the BJP’s symbol — the lotus. Former CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda has also repeatedly been exhorting the voters not to vote for Independents. “It is a direct contest between the BJP and the Congress. There is no use of voting for the ‘vote-cutters’ and people should steer clear of them,” he said. The apprehensions of both the parties are not unsubstantiated, given the sound political base of several Independent candidates in their respective segments.
For instance, Rajesh Joon, a Congress rebel from Bahadurgarh in Jhajjar, is giving a tough fight to party’s official nominee Rajinder Singh Joon and BJP’s Dinesh Kaushik.
Hisar has India’s richest woman Savitri Jindal in the fray as an Independent. The former minister is giving sleepless nights to candidates of both the Congress and the BJP.
In Uchana Kalan, Congress rebel Virender Ghogharian may play spoilsport in the crucial contest between Brijendra Singh (Congress), Dushyant Chautala (JJP) and Devender Atri (BJP).
Former minister Ranjit Singh is contesting as an Independent from Rania in Sirsa. Similarly, many rebel candidates are contesting from Tosham, Safidon and Badhra. BJP rebel Naveen Goyal is proving a headache for the parties in Gurugram. “Tired of the Congress-BJP cycle, voters are now supporting candidates who have actually worked for them,” claims Goyal.
Following the demise of Independent MLA Rakesh Daultabad, his wife Kumudni is contesting from Badshahpur. Independent Rahish Khan is giving a tough fight to Congress MLA Mohammad Ilyas in Punhana. Former MLAs and Congress rebels Sharda Rathore (Ballabhgarh) and Lalit Nagar (Tigaon) in Faridabad are giving a tough time to the Congress and BJP nominees.
In Karnal, Congress rebel Raj Kumar Valmiki is creating hurdles for party candidate Dharampal Gonder in Nilokheri, while BJP’s former MLA Zile Ram is causing trouble for party’s official candidate Yoginder Rana in Assandh. Similarly, BJP rebel Dinesh Kaushik and Congress rebel Satvir Bhana are contesting from Pundri in Kaithal. In Rohtak, BJP rebel Radha Ahlawat may play a key role in Meham, while panchayati candidate Prem Kumar may make a dent in the Congress vote share in Kalanaur.
In Panipat Urban, Congress rebel Rohita Rewri is giving a tough contest to BJP’ Pramod Vij as well as Congress’ Varinder Kumar Shah. In Panipat Rural, Congress rebel Vijay Jain may eat into the votes of BJP’s Mahipal Dhanda and Congress’ Sachin Kundu.
BJP rebel Devender Kadyan may upset the applecart for Congress’ Kuldeep Sharma and BJP’s Devender Kaushik in Ganaur. Similarly, in Baroda, Independent Kapoor Narwal is giving a tough challenge to BJP’s Pradeep Sangwan and Congress’ Induraj Narwal.
(With inputs from Bijendra Ahlawat, Deepender Deswal, Ravinder Saini, Sumedha Sharma, Parveen Arora and Mukesh Tandon).
Turncoat factor
- BJP ex-leader Savitri Jindal giving sleepless nights to Cong, BJP nominees in Hisar
- In Uchana Kalan, Cong rebel Virender Ghogharian may play spoilsport for Brijendra (Cong), Dushyant Chautala (JJP) and Devender Atri (BJP)
- Former minister Ranjit Singh in fray as Ind from Rania
