With talks between Congress and AAP for a poll tie-up in Haryana, initiated at the instance of Rahul Gandhi, hitting a dead end after the latter stuck to its demand for a larger share of seats, the state is set to witness a multi-cornered contest in Assembly polls. A report by Pawan Kumar Bansal
The BJP, which is facing strong anti-incumbency sentiment is jubilant over the development as it feels that it will split votes which would ultimately benefit it. Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) has formed alliance with BSP and on the other hand another scion of former CM Devi Lal family, Dushyant Chautala has formed alliance with the Azad Samaj Party led by Chandrashekhar Azad.
However, Devinder Surjewala, a political analyst, has opined that anti-BJP votes would not split as people have made up their mind to defeat BJP. Besides, a large number of BJP and Congress leaders, who were denied tickets, are contesting as independent candidates. Prominent among them are former Haryana minister Prof Chhattar Pal, who had once defeated the then Deputy Prime minister Devi Lal, from Ghirai assembly constituency and former Haryana minister Ranjit Singh, son of Devi Lal, who were denied tickets by BJP. Interestingly, Ranjit Singh Chautala who was an independent MLA was made minister by BJP and had been given party ticket from Hisar Lok Sabha seat ignoring the claim of senior leader Abhimanu during Parliamentary poll. He was demanding a ticket from Rania assembly constituency.
Both Congress and BJP are facing revolt by senior leaders, who were denied party tickets. Savitri Jindal, mother of Naveen Jindal, steel-baron and MP ,openly opposed party’s decision to give ticket to the former Haryana minister Dr Kamal Gupta from Hisar for which she was also claimant. Similarly, Kavita Jain, former minister, who was denied ticket from Sonipat has blamed former CM and now Union Minister Manohar Lal for this. BJP’s OBC cell chief, Karan Dev Kamboj has also revolted blaming Manohar Lal for denial of ticket to him. Renu Bala Gupta, Mayor of Karnal Municipal Corporation and close confidant of Manohar Lal has also revolted after denial of ticket to her. The list of rebels is endless.
Subash Barala, Rajya Sabha member, is unhappy over allotment of party ticket by BJP to Devinder Babli from Tohana constituency, once represented by Barala. Devinder Babli was last elected on Jannayak Janata party ticket and was inducted into Cabinet. He resigned from his party and in recently concluded Lok Sabha polls had supported Kumari Selja, Congress candidate from Sirsa. Selja had assured him the ticket but the party turned down her request arguing that he was not even a primary member of the party. But the BJP gave him a ticket which annoyed Subash Barala. Congress is also facing revolt and Kumari Selja has reportedly complained to Sonia Gandhi that former CM, Bhupinder Singh Hooda had managed to bag a major chunk of tickets for his supporters.
The state is witnessing a contest between family members of former CMs, Bansi Lal and Devi Lal. Interestingly, while there was a beeline of claimants for BJP tickets but the party offered a ticket to former minister Krishna Gehlot from Rai constituency in Sonipat district as party-survey indicated that she is the only formidable candidate. The BJP has given ticket to former minister Rao Narbir Singh from Badshahpur constituency despite stiff opposition by Union Minister Rao Inderjit and Sudha Yadav, member of Parliamentary Board of the party.
Narbir Singh had threatened the party that if he was not given a ticket then he will contest from Congress party and his threat worked and Union Home Minister and Haryana election incharge Amit Shah called him and he was given ticket. Naveen Goyal and G.L.Sharma, senior leaders, have also quit BJP due to allotment of ticket to Mukesh Sharma form millenium-city Gurugram from where they were also claimants. While G.L Sharma has joined Congress and Naveen Goyal is contesting as an independent from Gurugram. Amit Shah has taken command of the election.
PM Narender Modi and Chief Ministers of BJP-ruled states, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, Punjab CM Bhagwant Maan and Sunita Kejriwal, wife of Arvind Kejriwal, will visit as star- campaigners of their parties. Shatrujit Kapoor, DGP, said that elaborate arrangements have been made to ensure peaceful polling.
