Page 48 - 31JAN2018E

Jind by-election crucial

for all Haryana parties

n the Jat heartland, the Jind by- While the BJP will be eyeing a win from the district to consolidate
election in Haryana scheduled
to be held on Janaury 28 is con- its position ahead of the state assembly elections, the Congress will
sidered a prestige issue for all also look for win to prove its point, writes rajendra rhatry
I the parties in the state, be it the
ruling BJP, the main opposition Indian made party observers by the BJP na- president Ashok Tanwar were earlier
National Lok, the Congress, Indian Na- tional executive, for the sake of Jind by- agreed on his name. But Rahul Gan-
tional Lok Dal (INLD)-BSP alliance and poll. They visited Jind to hold talks with dhi was not convinced. He wanted a
th newly formed Jannayak Janata Party the party workers to get their feedback stronger candidate.
(JJP). The JJP is yet to be allotted the par- before deciding upon the candidate. Other senior Congress leaders too
ty symbol and therefore its candidate is Meanwhile the Haryana Congress favoured a very strong candidate who
figting the election as an independent. played a master card by fielding sit- could ensure party’s victory. It was then
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has opt- ting MLA from Kaithal, Randeep Singh that the name of Randeep Surjewala
ed out of the race and therefore will not Surjewala as the party’s candidate for was proposed and Rahul Gandhi gave a
be contesting the Jind by-poll. The BJP the Jind by-election.His selection as green signal to him.
is buoyed by its excellent performance the party candidate has come as a real One of the bigwigs of the Haryana
in the recently held municipal corpora- surprise because he is already an MLA politics, Randeep Surjewala, the AICC
tion elections in five cities where it won from Kaithal and according to reports media co-ordinator is one of the most
all the Mayoral seats, the party leaders was not too keen on contesting elec- trusted lieutenants of the Congress
say they are very confident of wresting tion from Jind although once he de- party and is considered very close to
the seat from the INLD. feated former INLD chief Minister Om the Gandhi family. He happens to be the
The by-poll is being held due to the Prakash Chautala from the Narwana trouble shooter for the Congress and is
death of the INLD MLA Dr Krishan Mid- assembly constituency. seen as one of the safest and the strong-
ha. A doctor by profession, Midha had But the Congress Party wanted a est bets at the moment.
won the seat in the year 2009 and then very strong candidate for the by-poll For one, the Congress does not want
again in 2014. After Dr Midha’s death his who could guarantee victory. Vikas, son to lose the by-poll at any cost. Buoyed
son Krishan Midha joined the BJP and of independent MLA Jaiprakash was by the massive success of the party in
the party has reposed faith in him and in the lead till the last moment. Even the recently held assembly elections
allotted the ticket to him to cotest the Bhupinder Singh Hooda and HPCC in Rajasthan, Chattisgarh and Madhya
Jind by-poll. Pradesh, the party is in need of another
According to Rajiv Jain, Media Ad- morale boosting win before the Lok
viser to the Haryana Chief Minister The Jind contest Sabha elections a few month later and
Manohar Lal Khattar, the party will win seems to be wide assembly elections in Haryana by the
the Jind by-election on the basis of the end of the year.
development works done there and open with caste The Congress party does not want
the rest of the state. He said the party is to let lose the momentum of victories
very confident of the win of its candi- equations going gained in the recent assembly elec-
date Krishan Midha. Krishan Midha is awry following the tions in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan
also expected to get the sympathy vote and Chatisgarh. The party is a bit down
in the name of his father Dr Hari Chand entry of Congress’ by the municipal corporation results
Midha who was a very popular doctor Kaithal MLA in five cities recently where the ruling
and a social worker. BJP swept the poll and Congress did not
Two party leaders-Haryana Agri- Randeep Singh even contest on party symbol.
culture minister Om Prakash Dhankar Surjewala This is Randeep Surjewala’s big
and former MP Sudha Yadav had been chance for taking over leadership from

Tehelka / 31 january 2019 48 www.Tehelka.com