Maiden win for BJP from P’kula, Kalka
Since the formation of Haryana 48 years ago, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has never won from the Panchkula region. But this time, it won both Panchkula and Kalka assembly seats convincingly and created history.
Since the formation of Haryana 48 years ago, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has never won from the Panchkula region. But this time, it won both Panchkula and Kalka assembly seats convincingly and created history.
Gian Chand Gupta, who was third in the 2009 assembly elections, won by a margin of 44,602 votes from the Panchkula assembly seat on Sunday. He secured 69,916 votes. In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP had secured 71,750 votes from Panchkula.
Right from round 1 to 14, Gupta stood a winner. Wearing a pink ‘kurta’, Gupta was composed in victory.
“I am very happy that after 48 years the lotus has bloomed here,” he said. On being asked to whom he would give the credit, he replied, “Modi ji ki chhaya hai (Under the blessing of Modi).”
On the BJP’s chief ministerial candidate and ministerial berth for him, he said he would go with the decision of the central leadership.
“New development will be initiated in Panchkula. Haryana people want to see the same development which Modi has initiated at the Centre,” said Gupta.
Though the results were declared late, Gupta’s supporters were celebrating since 10.30am.
Gupta was joined by his wife Bimla Gupta and daughter Ruchi the moment he came out of the counting centre. Gupta started his day by paying obeisance at the Mansa Devi temple with his wife at 5.30am. He was greeted with garlands and slogans in his favour and that of the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. A massive road show followed and Gupta, along with senior party leaders, workers and supporters, went around the city with BJP flags colouring the town saffron, finally concluding at the party’s election office.
Meanwhile, at the party’s election office in Sector 8 and party office in Sector 2, there was jubilation and party workers distributed sweets.
Indian National Lok Dal (INLD)’s money bag candidate Kulbhushan Goyal was second with 25,314 votes. His office in Sector 5 wore a deserted look on Sunday.
Just like his booth agents had vanished on the day of voting, Congress’ DK Bansal was missing from his house in Sector 12. He could earn only 15,564 votes. He lost his deposit too. Already under wrath from local Congress leaders, this will be the end of the road for him.
Kalka
BJP was seventh in the 2009 assembly election in Kalka with around 2,000 votes. But this time the victory margin was over 19,000 votes. In the Lok Sabha elections, the BJP had secured 58,032 votes from the Kalka assembly.
At the counting centre in Government College for Girls, Sector 14, Panchkula, BJP’s Latika Sharma, wearing a brown sari, was composed in her reactions. Even on securing an unassailable lead, she refused to come out to talk to the media. She said she would wait for the declaration. She won by a margin of 19,027 votes and had secured 50,347 votes. Barring round 1, she maintained the lead in all other rounds.
“I give credit to the central leadership, BJP workers and people of Kalka for the victory,” she said.
On her priorities, she said, “Kalka is a backward area. It requires scheme-based development programme.”
Regarding ministerial berth, she said the decision would be taken by the central leadership.
As soon as she was declared victorious, Ambala BJP MP Rattan Lal Kataria’s wife Banto reached at the counting centre to congratulate her. BJP district president Vishal Seth also reached the centre.
The entire road outside the girls’ college was flooded with the BJP supporters and their vehicles.
Congress’ Manvir Kaur Gill attributed her defeat to the “wave”. She lost her deposit too.
