‘Rebels’ may upset saffron applecart on at least 15 seats in Haryana

It has been a mixed bag for the BJP when it came to mollifying the party rebels, who are giving sleepless nights to the saffron party ahead of the October 5 Assembly polls.

On the last day of withdrawal of nominations today, the party was able to secure the withdrawal by at least five rebel candidates. However, despite efforts by the top brass, the party continues to face ‘rebel trouble’ in at least 15 Assembly segments.

Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini and BJP state chief Mohan Lal Badoli, besides other senior leaders, were on the forefront of the efforts to mollify the disgruntled rebel candidates. The duo was able to secure the withdrawal of nomination by Rajiv Jain, a former media adviser to former Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar. Jain, along with his wife and former Haryana minister Kavita Jain, was eyeing the ticket from Sonepat.

Similarly, Bharti Saini, who was the rebel BJP candidate from Narnaul, withdrew her nomination today. Saini had called on Bharti at Narnaul yesterday. Shiv Kumar Mehta (Narnaul) and Rampal Yadav (Kosli) also withdrew their nominations.

Another notable ‘success’ for the party today was the withdrawal of nomination by former Deputy Speaker Santosh Yadav, who was a ticket aspirant from Ateli. The party has fielded Aarti Rao, daughter of Union Minister Rao Inderjit Singh from Ateli. Meanwhile, BJP election in charge Dharmendra Pradhan was able to mollify former Karnal Mayor Renu Bala Gupta after her husband was elevated as working district BJP president.

Savitri Jindal, mother of BJP Kurukshetra MP Naveen Jindal, is contesting as an Independent after being denied the ticket from Hisar. The party has re-nominated fomer minister Kamal Gupta from Hisar. Earlier, former Haryana minister Ranjit Singh had filed papers as an Independent candidate after being denied the ticket from Rania.

Meanwhile, prominent rebel candidates, who could upset the BJP applecart included Naveen Goyal (Gurugram), Devender Kadian (Ganaur), Zile Ram Sharma (Assandh), Deepak Dagar (Prithla), Kehar Singh Rawat (Hathin), Bachan Singh Arya, Jasbir Deswal (Safidon), Kehar Singh Rawat (Hathin) and Kalyan Chauhan (Sohna).

Besides, Nagendra Bhadana, who switched to the INLD after being denied the BJP ticket, will also play spoilsport for the BJP candidate Satish Fagna from Faridabad (NIT).

Senior BJP leaders, however, claimed that even though the deadline for withdrawal of nominations had ended yet efforts would be intensified to woo the rebels. In fact, a majority of the senior leaders having connections with Haryana are already on the job to assuage the feelings of the rebels.

“We still have about 18 days to put our house in order. A majority of the rebels should fall in line well before the election date of October 5,” a senior leader asserted.