Haryana Assembly Polls: Kulwant Ram Bazigar, Guhla (reserved) MLA

Coming from a humble background, Kulwant worked for his community and remained as district president of Bazigar and Banjara sanghs for over a decade. Relative of senior Congress leader Dillu Ram, he began his political career as a party worker. He fought 2009 assembly election as an Independent and finished third.

Kulwant Ram Bazigar, 41, BJP, Guhla (reserved)

Coming from a humble background, Kulwant worked for his community and remained as district president of Bazigar and Banjara sanghs for over a decade. Relative of senior Congress leader Dillu Ram, he began his political career as a party worker. He fought 2009 assembly election as an Independent and finished third.

Educational qualification: Matriculate

MLA’s quote: I have served the Guhla constituency and would like to contest again. Development works worth ₹700 crore have been carried out during my stint as the legislator of Guhla, which remained neglected in the past.

Assets: Total: ₹12 lakh

Movable: ₹5 lakh

Immovable: ₹7 lakh

Constituency primer: Bordering Punjab’s Patiala district, Guhla has been a reserved seat since 1977. Mostly dominated by the Congress, the BJP never stood a chance here. It is the only segment among 17 reserved seats where community of Bazigars (nomads) have a stronghold. Even after delimitation, some area of Guhla was included in the Kalayat assembly constituency that was made a general seat. It is one of the major paddy growing areas and hub of marble and granite trade. Drug menace is one of the concerning issues here.

Electoral History:

2014: Kulwant Ram Bazigar of BJP defeated Dillu Ram of Congress by 2,440 votes.

2009: Phool Singh of INLD defeated Dillu Ram by a margin of 5,253 votes.

2005: Dillu Ram defeated Buta Singh of INLD by 10,127 votes.

How he performed: Prominent among development works carried out by Kulwant are setting up of a girls’ college, an industrial training institute, two public health centres and a stadium, besides overhaul of several schools, rejuvenation of four minor irrigation tanks and a canal, and expansion of road network. Kulwant, who was accused of irregularities during paddy procurement, also faced protests for his ‘non-performance’.

By the way: He worked as a taxi driver before coming into politics.