As the Congress party aims at wresting power from the BJP, dissidents in two of the four Assembly constituencies in Haryana’s northern district of Ambala are determined to play spoilsport.
The district has four Assembly constituencies — Nariangarh, Ambala Cantt, Ambala City and Mullana (SC) — which the BJP had won in 2014.
In Ambala Cantt., Health Minister Anil Vij is again in the fray and the Congress has fielded Venu Singla Aggarwal against him. Mr. Vij had won from the constituency in 1996, 2000, 2009 and 2014. As the Congress prepares to take on the BJP candidate in his stronghold, the decision of rebel Chitra Sarwara, who was a municipal councillor, to contest as an independent could dent its electoral prospects.
Ms. Sarwara is the daughter of former Minister and four-time former Congress MLA Nirmal Singh and both had revolted against the party after being denied the ticket. Mr. Singh is contesting from the neighbouring Ambala (City) seat as an independent candidate.
Rajesh Kapoor, who runs a tyre repair shop, feels that while the BJP candidate is already a strong contestant, the Congress will suffer on account of the infighting.
“Anil Vij is easily accessible. Also, during the last five years the condition of the roads has improved, the civil hospital has better facilities than before. To give him a fight, the Congress should be united. With a rebel candidate, it’s going to be difficult for the BJP candidate to win,” said Mr. Kapoor.
Shyam Sundar, a tailor, believes that the BJP candidate will easily sail through as he has delivered on development work. “Roads are better now, street lights are there... moreover he is available whenever needed, that’s the best part,” he said.
In the Ambala seat, BJP MLA Aseem Goyal is seeking re-election. The Congress has fielded Jasbir Malour who is having a tough time as Mr. Nirmal Singh is contesting as the rebel candidate. Mr. Singh and Ms. Chitra Sarwara were recently expelled from the Congress for violating the provisions of the party constitution and contesting the elections as rebels.
‘Changed scenario’
Ashok Kumar, who works at a meat shop, said: “The Congress was in fight but after Nirmal Singh announced he would contest, the scenario has changed a bit. He will cut into the Congress vote which will benefit the BJP.”
The Naraingarh constituency sees a direct fight between BJP’s Surender Rana and Congress party’s Shalley Chaudhary. However, Gulshan Kumar, candidate of the Loktantra Suraksha Party floated by former BJP MP Raj Kumar Saini, is capable of changing the equations.
