BHIWANI

Bhiwani is the stage for a battle of three rising sons of politicians two of whom have tasted success and a third is awaiting the hour of glory.

One of Haryana's richest Lok Sabha constituencies is the stage for a battle of three rising sons of veteran politicians two of whom have tasted success and a third is awaiting the hour of glory.

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Surender Singh, son of former Chief Minister Bansi Lal, won from Bhiwani constituency in 1998. Ajay Chautala, son of present Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala, emerged victorious in 1999 and will 2004 see Kuldeep Bishnoi, son of another former Chief Minister Bhajan Lal, triumphant?

The sons had fought against each other in the last two elections and they are back again this time--Surender as candidate of Haryana Vikas Party founded by his father, Ajay as nominee of ruling Indian National Lok Dal and Kuldeep as the representative of Congress.

Bhajan Lal, PCC President, has perhaps more at stake than the other two father-politicians who are his rivals in state politics.

Bansi Lal is well past his prime and heydays in politics, having attained all possible heights--Chief Minister, Union Minister holding Defence, Railway and Transport portfolios.

A victory for Kuldeep, feel Bhajan Lal supporters, will help him establish his stature far above his rivals both within Congress--particularly Bhupinder Singh Hooda--as well as outside.

Bhajan Lal has, therefore, employed all his resources to ensure victory for his son.

The credit for carving out Bhiwani district out of Hisar goes to Bansi Lal who also claims the distinction of having brought drinking water and canal water for irrigation which has helped cultivation of wheat, sugarcane, rice, cotton etc in a sandy terrain earlier considered infertile.

Bansi Lal constructed roads connecting every village, electrified the whole countryside, expanded health and educational facilities and is identified as the developer of Haryana.

That his image has not totally lost its saleability in terms of electoral gains was proved when he along with another party man was elected to the state assembly four years back at a time when HVP had faced a virtual total rout in the state.

Out of the eight elections held in Bhiwani so far, Bansi Lal's party has won five times and the opposition thrice and all eight MPs belonged to Jat community.

The caste factor is also likely to come into play in determining the outcome of the battle in Bhiwani. There are about 3.75 lakh Jat voters, one lakh Brahmin, 50,000 Mahajan, 50,000 Ahir, 60,000 Arora Khatri, 60,000 Rajput, 50,000 Dhanak, 25,000 Bishnoi and four lakh others, including scheduled caste and backward castes.

Chautala government undertook substantial developmental work in Bhiwani with an eye on the election and also because Ajay was an MP in the dissolved Lok Sabha.

However, Ajay may face dissidence within a vast section of INLD who remain untouched by the benefits of the last five years of party's rule.

BJP's Ram Bilas Sharma is the fourth prominent candidate in the constituency and he is expected to cut into the votes of mainly Congress though INLD and HVP will also feel the pinch. Sharma is trailing behind the three nominees and there are little chances of his catching up with rivals.

A question mark for not only Sharma but his party too is that BJP is for the first time contesting elections in Haryana without aliance and that the party lacks a charismatic leader since the death of Mangal Sain whose oratory and leadership had commanded respect amomg the people who had migrated from Pakistan after the partition.

BSP nominee Rama Nand Jangra will also cut into the votes of the three main contenders while the Samajwadi Party candidate Mohender Shekhawat will not poll many votes as the party has no influence in the area.