The political landscape of the Gurgaon constituency has become increasingly intriguing as independent candidate Naveen Goel, and Congress’s increasing vote count may pose a challenge to the BJP in this poll, scheduled on October 5.

The notable contender is Naveen Goel, a BJP rebel, whose participation as an independent candidate has heightened concerns for the ruling party.

Mukesh Sharma, the BJP candidate, faces the daunting task of securing victory this time.

In the assembly elections of 2014, the BJP candidate had secured 84,095 votes while the Congress candidate got just 19,094 votes.

In 2019, the winning margin of the BJP candidate was 33,315, while the Independent candidate Mohit Grover managed to secure over 48,000 votes, and Congress secured third position with 23,126 votes.

The contest is primarily seen as a three-way battle between BJP leader Mukesh Sharma, Congress’ Mohit Grover and Independent candidate Naveen Goel.

Naveen Goel, who was previously associated with the BJP has entered the race after he was denied a BJP ticket, making him a formidable challenger with a personal stake in avenging his rejection.

The BJP’s biggest threat is perceived to be from its dissenters. Mukesh successfully secured his ticket, but he now must contend with the votes that may shift towards Naveen and Mohit, who are both seen as significant contenders.

With a total of 17 candidates in the fray, the real contest remains among Mukesh, Naveen and Mohit. However, Mohit’s and Naveen’s entries could siphon off crucial votes from the Punjabi and Vaishya communities traditionally aligned with the BJP.

In the Gurgaon constituency, voter demographics play a critical role in election outcomes. Approximately 50,000 Vaishya, 85,000 Punjabi, and 55,000 Brahmin voters reside in the area. Historically, the Vaishya and Punjabi community’s support has been pivotal in determining the winner.