Karnal BJP workers seek ticket for local candidate, meet Khattar

Tribune News Service

Karnal, September 2

Amid speculation that the BJP may field an outsiderfrom the Karnal Assembly segment for the elections, the demand for a local candidate has gained momentum. A group of around 60 local residents, a majority of them BJP workers, met Union Power Minister and Karnal MP Manohar Lal Khattar in New Delhi and urged him to ensure that the party fields a local candidate from the seat.

The delegation said that only a local candidate would be able to understand the sentiments of local party workers and voters and address their grievances. It added that an outsider may spoil the party’s prospects in the segment.

Khattar gave them a patient hearing and listened to the concerns raised by them. He assured the residents that their issue for a local candidate would be given due consideration.

During the meeting, five potential candidates, namely former Mayor Renu Bala Gupta, former district president Ashok Sukhija, former media coordinator to Khattar Jagmohan Anand, OSD to CM Sanjay Bathla, and former youth district president Mukesh Arora, from Karnal were discussed.

As per BJP sources, there were rumours that former MPs Arvind Sharma and Sanjay Bhatia could be fielded from Karnal.

“We have requested the former CM that a local candidate should be fielded from the Karnal seat. We have been working hard for the party for the past several years, but the party always fielded outsiders, due to which we are feeling neglected,” said a party worker who went to Delhi with other residents.