The entry of Congress’ Kuldeep Sharma, sitting legislator and a former Haryana Vidhan Sabha Speaker, against the Lok Sabha poll debutant Sanjay Bhatia of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has turned the May 12 political bout of Karnal parliamentary seat into a keenly-watched tussle.
A fiercely fought battle is underway in what looks like a direct contest between Sharma, 62, of Congress and BJP’s Bhatia, 52, a confidante of chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar. The stakes are very high for the BJP which is fighting to retain the Karnal Lok Sabha seat. BJP replaced its sitting Karnal MP Ashwini Kumar and fielded Bhatia.
While Dharamvir Padha is the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) nominee, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), in alliance with Jananayak Janata Party (JJP), has fielded Krishan Kumar Aggarwal. Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), in alliance with Loktantra Suraksha Party, has fielded Pankaj. There are a total of 16 candidates in fray, including independents who are expected to perform in consonance with their political standing.
Until 2014 when the BJP won the Karnal seat by over 3.6 lakh votes, it was considered a traditional Congress bastion.
{{/usCountry}}Until 2014 when the BJP won the Karnal seat by over 3.6 lakh votes, it was considered a traditional Congress bastion.
{{/usCountry}}BJP’s Sanjay Bhatia is banking on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, emotive issues such as terrorism, national security and honesty of chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar.
On the other hand, Congress’ Sharma is reminding the voters of the “good work” his father late Charanji Lal Sharma had done while representing Karnal parliamentary seat fourtimes.
Hence, the stage is set in Karnal for the direct showdown.
Caste remains a key factor in Karnal. Last time, BJP’s Ashwini Chopra, a Punjabi, had ended the belief that Karnal is a Brahmin-dominated seat. This time again, the BJP has fielded another Punjabi. But the Congress is eyeing the big Brahmin vote bank by fielding Sharma two days before the last day of filing of nominations. Sharma is a close confidante of former chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, the Rohtak strongman and a Jat leader. Banking on Hooda connection, Sharma is also trying to woo the Jat community which is believed to have about 1.70 lakh votes in this seat.
“If you vote for me, it will strengthen Hooda in the assembly elections,” Sharma told a gathering in a Jat-dominated village. Banking on Prime Minister Modi and chief minister Khattar for his electoral fortunes, Bhatia in his campaign says, “The country is safe in the hands of Prime Minister Modi, and we should give him strength by voting for the BJP.” But Sharma questions why the BJP is silent when people ask why their MP did not return to Karnal after winning.
In his election speeches, Bhatia carefully avoids referring to Ashwini Chopra, who is facing criticism for staying away from Karnal. Observers say the non-performance of its Karnal MP is the major roadblock the BJP is facing in Karnal and much to its glee the Congress is exploiting this to the hilt.