Three ‘Gurjars’ all set for Jagadhri clash

Tribune News Service

Yamunanagar, August 28

It is going to be an interesting fight between three ‘Gurjars’ in the Jagadhri Assembly constituency of Yamunanagar district. BJP leader Kanwar Pal and Congress leader Adarsh Pal Singh are Hindu Gurjars while Congress leader Akram Khan is a Muslim Gurjar.

Sitting BJP MLA Kanwar Pal’s ticket is almost final. He will contest from the Jagadhri seat that he had won three times in 2019, 2014 and 2000 (from the Chhachhrauli segment, which is now part of the Jagadhri seat).

Congress leader Akram Khan, a two-time MLA, is making efforts to get the Congress ticket from the seat. Akram Khan was elected MLA from the Jagadhri seat on the BSP ticket in 2009 and as an Independent candidate from Chhachhrauli in 1996. The Chhachhrauli constituency in Yamunanagar was merged after the 2005 Assembly elections.

Adarsh Pal Singh fought his first Assembly election from the Jagadhri seat on the BSP ticket in 2019 and got 47,988 votes. He is also a strong contender for the Congress ticket from the constituency.

“Between Akram Khan and Adarsh Pal Singh, whosoever does not get the Congress ticket may contest the election from some other party,” says a political observer.

There are a good number of Gurjar votes (both Hindu and Muslim) in this Assembly constituency. As per political observers, a large section of Hindu Gurjars had supported the BJP in the 2014 and 2019 elections, but this time, the community votes may get divided between the three — Kanwar Pal, Adarsh Pal and Akram Khan.

“A majority of Muslim votes will go to Akram Khan. Hindu Gurjar votes are expected to get divided,” says a political analyst. He adds that those who are unhappy with the BJP, will prefer to vote for Akram Khan and Adarsh Pal.

The Gurjar MLAs, who have won the Chhachhrauli seat, include BSP’s Arjan Singh (2005), BJP’s Kanwar Pal (2000), Independent Akram Khan (1996), Congress’ Mohammad Aslam Khan (1991 and 1987), LKD/Lok Dal’s Roshan Lal (1982) and Kanhaiya Lal (1977).

The Gurjar MLAs from Jagadhri are BSP’s Akram Khan (2009) and BJP’s Kanwar Pal (2014 and 2019).

Interesting fight

• BJP leader Kanwar Pal and Congress leader Adarsh Pal Singh are Hindu Gurjars while Congress leader Akram Khan is a Muslim Gurjar
• Sitting BJP MLA Kanwar Pal’s ticket is almost final
• Congress leader Akram Khan, a two-time MLA, is vying for the ticket from Jagadhri constituency