Rebels may impact poll prospects of both BJP, Congress

With the withdrawal of nomination papers and allocating of symbols to candidates on Monday, rebels of both Congress and BJP are in the poll fray as Independent candidates, challenging their official nominees in Karnal and Kaithal districts.

The presence of these rebels not only intensifies the competition but may also impact the prospects of both parties.

In Karnal district, there are five Assembly segments, while in Kaithal district there are four. As many as 55 candidates are in the poll fray at five Assembly segments of Karnal district — 15 in Nilokheri, 14 in Assandh, 12 in Karnal, eight in Gharaunda and six in the Indri Assembly segments.

Similarly, 53 candidates are contesting in Kaithal district —14 candidates are from Kalayat, 18 at Pundri, 12 in Kaithal and nine in the Guhla segment.

Congress ticket aspirants and former MLA Raj Kumar Valmiki is contesting from Nilokheri as an Independent candidate. He, as per the political experts, may spoil the prospects of the party’s official candidate Dharapal Gonder.

BJP rebel and former MLA Zile Ram Sharma is contesting as an Independent candidate. He is contesting against the party’s official candidate Yogendra Rana, Congress candidate Shamsher Singh Gogi and others.

In the Pundri Assembly segment, the official candidates of the BJP and Congress are facing the rebels of their own parties. Former MLA Dinesh Kaushik has filed as an Independent candidate after being denied the ticket by the BJP. Similarly, Congress rebel Satvir Bhana is also in the poll fray. Kaushik and Bhana are contesting as Independent candidates and they are contesting against Congress candidate Sultan Singh Jadola and BJP candidate Satpal Jamba. Apart from them, former Independent MLA Randhir Singh Gollen, who had extended support to the Congress before the Lok Sabha election, is also contesting as an Independent candidate.

Similar scenario prevails in the Kalayat Assembly segment, where BJP rebel Vinod Nirmal is also contesting, while Congress rebels, including former MLA Satvinder Rana, and Anita Dhull, are contesting as Independent candidates. Congress rebel Naresh Kumar is also contesting from the Guhla Assembly segment.

Political experts say the entry of rebels as Independent candidates may impact the perspectives of the national parties. “Rebels always leave their impact in the poll fray. Some senior leaders have their own significant support base, which impact the prospects of the winning political parties,” said Dr Kushal Pal, political expert and principal of Indira Gandhi College, Ladwa.