Khap leaders showing keen interest in Assembly elections

Tribune News Service

Hisar, August 22

Haryana khap panchayats which wield considerable social influence in certain pockets in the rural areas have been eying political power by way of fielding their own leaders or backing leader of their choice who are aspiring for the ticket, especially from the Congress and the BJP, in the forthcoming Assembly elections.

Eyeing political arena

Among the prominent khap leaders who are eager to try their luck in politics include Sarv Jatia Khap panchayat national convener Tekram Kandela, Samain khap leader and Sarv Khap panchayat spokesperson Sube Singh, Phogat Khap pradhan Balwant Phogat and Sangwan Khap pradhan and Charkhi Dadri sitting MLA Sombir Sangwan. The Barah Khap in Narnaund Assembly constituency has also demanded the Congress ticket for Dinesh Sheoran, a member of its khap.

Among the prominent khap leaders who are eager to try their luck in politics include Sarv Jatia khap panchayat national convener Tekram Kandela, Samain khap leader and sarv khap panchayat spokesperson Sube Singh, Phogat khap pradhan Balwant Phogat and Sangwan Khap pradhan and Charkhi Dadri sitting MLA Sombir Sangwan. The Barah khap in Narnaund Assembly constituency has also demanded the Congress ticket for Dinesh Sheoran, a member of this khap.

Tekram Kandela is asking for the ticket from any of the Jind or Uchana Assembly constituencies from the BJP. Kandela khap has been one of the strongest khaps which had taken on the might of the Chautala government on the issue of electricity bills in 2002. Talking to The Tribune, Kandela said he wanted the ticket from the BJP as villages having influence of Kandela khap will back him. However, there has been differences in the Kandela khap and another faction was opposed to him (Tekram).

The ticket for the Charkhi Dadri Assembly segment has become a bone of contention between the two khap leaders. Sitting MLA (Independent) Sombir Sangwan, pradhan of Sangwan khap, and Phogat Khap pradhan Balwant Phogat are vying for the Congress ticket though there are a total of 36 aspirants here.

In Narnaund Assembly segment, Barah khap pradhan wants the Congress ticket for its member and Congress leader Dinesh Sehoran. Secretary of Barah khap Ram Niwas said they had about 62,000 votes in 15 villages in Narnaund segment. “There has never been an MLA from our khap. So we want the Congress to field one of our representatives. In Tohana Assembly segment of Fatehabad district, Sarv Khap panchayat spokesperson and former pradhan of Samain khap Sube Singh has also applied for the Congress ticket,” he said.

The khap panchayats though have not much success in politics in previous elections. Though Sangwan khap pradhan Sombir Sangwan won in 2019 from Charkhi Dadri, there were many khap leaders who failed to find favour with the electorate.

In 2014, the BJP had fielded Malik khap pradhan Baljit Singh Malik from Baroda Assembly segment in Sonepat district. However, he came third with just 7.22% votes as the contest was reduced between the winning Congress candidate Shrikishan Hooda and runner-up INLD’s Kapoor Narwal. In 1991, Chhillar-Chhikara khap fielded Harkishan Singh from Bahadurgarh Assembly constituency as Independent but lost.

However, Meham Chaubisi khap panchayat in Rohtak district had shown its political power for a long time. Starting from 1962, it fielded its own candidate as an Independent or from any political party and ensured victory for successive elections until 1990 when violence erupted during the byelection which is known as Meham mayhem in Haryana’s political history.

Tulsi Grewal, leader of Meham Chaubisi khap panchayat, recalled that khap backed Ramdhari in 1962, Umed Singh in 1972, Harswaroop Boora in 1975 and 1977. “It was this khap which invited Devi Lal to contest from here in 1982 after which he emerged at the national political scene with consecutive victories in 1985 and 1987,” he said.

Rishi Saini, a former aide of Devi Lal, recalled that after the elevation of Devi Lal as Deputy PM, the khap wanted Anand Singh Dangi, who was a member of the Lok Dal, as a candidate to replace Devi Lal in the byelection. But the then Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala wanted himself as candidate which irked the Meham Chaubisi khap panchayat and it fielded Dangi its candidate as an Independent. The ensured circumstances resulted in violence during the byelection which was countermanded.