In the run-up to the Haryana assembly polls on October 5, both the BJP and Congress are likely to face formidable challenges with former party rebels contesting as independents and turning against official candidates.
According to reports, over 60 rebels from both BJP and Congress candidates filed nominations as Independents or on tickets from smaller parties after being denied tickets. As Haryana’s 1,031 candidates prepare to battle it out across 90 assembly constituencies, both the Congress and BJP have been making public appeals and urging rebels to reconsider their decisions. Some senior BJP leaders such as Manohar Lal Khattar and Biplab Deb have reportedly reached out to some rebels. Meanwhile, Bhupinder Singh Hooda’s family is trying to mediate disputes.
“The tickets in these elections have not been given based on party loyalty or based on external or internal surveys but the recommendations of top BJP leaders who have preferred their favourites. The BJP, which had a chance to get a good number of seats in south Haryana is likely to face losses in Rewari, Palwal and even Gururgam. The party cadre and workers are shocked at this turn of events,” a former senior BJP functionary told Hindustan Times.
Who are these key rebels?
Savitri Jindal: Days after the BJP confirmed its sitting MLA and minister, Kamal Gupta, as the candidate for the Hisar constituency, party veteran Savitri Jindal (74) filed her nomination from the same seat as an independent candidate. The Jindals are an influential family in Hisar and Savitri’s presence poses a big challenge for Kamal Gupta. “This is my last election, and I want to complete the unfinished work for the people of Hisar,” Jindal said after filing her nomination.
Devender Kadyan: In Ganaur, BJP’s Devender Kaushik faces a stiff challenge from rebel independent candidate Devender Kadyan. Kadyan’s intensive campaigning may further complicate BJP’s prospects in the constituency.
Ranjit Singh Chautala: Haryana minister Ranjit Singh Chautala resigned from the Cabinet after he was denied a ticket by the BJP . Chautala, the brother of former Haryana Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala, was among the nine incumbent MLAs excluded from the BJP's first list of 67 candidates. He will contest from Rania as an independent. Chautala had lobbied for contesting from the Rania seat, but the BJP fielded Shishpal Kamboj instead.
Chitra Sarwara: In Ambala cantonment, the Congress is facing a tough internal challenge. Chitra Sarwara, daughter of Congress veteran Nirmal Singh, is contesting as an Independent after being denied a party ticket. In the 2019 assembly polls, Chitra contested as an Independent and lost to Vij by nearly 20,000 votes.
Adarshpal Gurjar: The Congress also faces major challenges in Jagadhari. In Jagadhari, Congress leader Adarshpal Gurjar defected to AAP and is now contesting on an AAP ticket. He poses a serious threat to Congress candidate Akram Khan. It is likely to be an interesting fight between three ‘Gurjars’ in the Jagadhri Assembly constituency. BJP leader Kanwar Pal and Congress leader Adarsh Pal Singh are Hindu Gurjars while Congress leader Akram Khan is a Muslim Gurjar.
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