Political parties focus on community leaders to garner votes

All political parties are making efforts to woo voters of different communities in Yamunanagar district mainly in the Jagadhri Assembly constituency.

They are fielding their star campaigners for canvassing, especially where the voters of their community reside in considerable numbers.

The move is aimed at attracting the voters through their community leaders.

Jagadhri city, famous for its brass and steel utensils in the country, is considered a hub of people belonging to Vaish/Baniya community (business community).

The community has a good number of voters in Jagadhri city and they play an important role in the victory or defeat of a candidate in the elections.

Arvind Kejriwal (belonging to the Vaish community), national convener of the Aam Aadmi Party, joined a roadshow in Jagadhri on September 20.

The roadshow was held by Adarsh Pal Gurjar, AAP candidate from the Jagadhri Assembly constituency.

Political observers say that Adarsh Pal has a good hold on the rural voters and he wants to ensure his victory by making a dent in the Baniya vote of Jagadhri, which is traditionally considered to be the vote bank of the BJP.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah (belonging to the Vaish community) also addressed a rally in Jagadhri on September 23.

Although, the rally was attended by all four candidates fielded by the BJP from the Jagadhri, Yamunanagar, Sadhaura and Radaur Assembly constituencies, the Jagadhri Assembly segment candidate, Kanwar Pal Gujjar, got maximum benefit from the rally as it was organised in Jagadhri city (in the new grain market of Jagadhri).

Besides Arvind Kejriwal and Amit Shah, Kurukshetra BJP MP Naveen Jindal has also attended political programmes in Jagadhri and other areas of the district.

“Although, the Baniya vote bank is traditionally associated with the BJP, the candidates from other political parties are also trying to get a share from the vote bank of this community,’’ said a political observer.

Industrialist and Brahmin leader Venod Sharma recently joined a Brahmin Sammelan held by Kanwar Pal Gujjar in his Jagadhri Assembly constituency.

Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini also addressed a rally in Radaur town on September 25.

The BJP has fielded Shyam Singh Rana from the Radaur Assembly segment, which is considered a stronghold of the Saini community votes in Yamuanagar district and this vote bank holds great importance for the leaders of all political parties.

As per available information, there is a good number of Gurjar vote banks in the rural areas of the Jagadhri Assembly constituency and all political parties are taking help of big Gurjar leaders to woo this vote bank.

Other leaders have also joined political programmes in other parts of the district with an aim to woo voters of their community.