Haryana CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda may be campaigning in some parts of Punjab but he is evading this constituency even though his daughter is married here.
In this Hindi-speaking belt of Punjab bordering Haryana, the SAD-BJP candidate, Vijay Laxmi Bhadoo, is Hooda's 'samdhan' — Anjali, the CM's daughter, is married to Bhadoo's son Kunal.
Trouble is Bhadoo is pitted against Congress candidate Sunil Jakhar, the youngest son of veteran Congress leader Balram Jakhar.
Bhadoo says they had to answer a lot of questions on their political affiliations when Kunal and Anjali got married in 2004.
"I have been associated with the BJP since 1966. I have my own commitments and Hoodaji has his own. I don't expect Hoodaji to canvass for me," Bhadoo said.
Kunal seconds her, saying senior politicians often face such a dilemma.
"Though Anjali was here with us till recently, we understand that it is unfair to expect Hoodaji to be here," says Kunal.
Sitting MLA Jakhar says he doesn't want to put Hooda in an awkward situation by inviting him here.
Bhadoo, who is fighting the elections for the first time, can be seen highlighting the alleged corruption during the previous Congress regime in Punjab.
{{/usCountry}}Bhadoo, who is fighting the elections for the first time, can be seen highlighting the alleged corruption during the previous Congress regime in Punjab.
{{/usCountry}}Jakhar, on the other hand, highlights his fight against the alleged misrule of SAD-BJP.
"I want citrus fruit growers of the area to prosper, while other candidates want the orange (referring to a countrymade liquor named "santra") to flourish," he was heard saying at a lawyers' meet.