REBELS AND INDEPENDENTS POSE A CHALLENGE TO BJP AND CONG IN HARYANA ASSEMBLY ELECTIONS

The upcoming Assembly elections in Haryana are marked by significant internal dissent, with rebel candidates posing challenges to BJP and Congress.

- NEERAJ MOHAN

Haryana Assembly elections have taken an unexpected twist, with rebels and independent candidates posing a formidable challenge to the two major political heavyweights-the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress. Despite frantic last-minute efforts to manage dissident leaders, both parties now face an uphill battle against a wave of internal rebellion that threatens to alter the political landscape.

As over 50 prominent rebels, including 30 from Congress, remain defiant, the two parties find themselves navigating a fractured electoral battleground. The presence of these rebels is expected to disrupt the political calculus on around 20 seats significantly, forcing both, BJP and Congress to rethink their strategies in the face of this internal challenge.

Despite the discontent, Congress successfully managed to quell the rebellion in around 10 constituencies, convincing 12 dissidents to stay aligned. Likewise, BJP rebels in six constituencies withdrew their nominations after senior party leaders intervened.

One of the most high-profile figures in this election is Savitri Jindal, chairperson of the O.P. Jindal Group and India's richest woman, who has broken away from BJP.

At 74, Jindal has declared this will be her last election and has entered the race as an Independent in Hisar, a constituency of immense personal significance.

Once a two-time MLA and minister in the Bhupinder Singh Hooda-led Congress government, Jindal is now challenging Haryana's sitting health minister, Kamal Gupta.