Jind bypoll, fought for just nine-month tenure in the State Assembly, is not just another election in the Jatland of Haryana. Though the local issues dominate the electioneering in Jind, the by-poll outcome will have national impact, with barely two months left for Lok Sabha polls 2019.
The national parties—ruling BJP and its arch rival Congress—have put their best foot forward in the Jind bypoll, deeming it as a “semi-final” ahead of general elections and also, a referendum on the Manohar Lal Khattar led Haryana Government before the assembly polls due to be held later this year.
In the high stakes prestige battle, scheduled to be held on January 28, the BJP has fielded Krishan Middha, son of late INLD MLA Hari Chand Middha, Congress’ nominee is sitting MLA from Kaithal, Randeep Surjewala, Jannayak Janta Party’s candidate is Digvijay Chautala, great grandson of former Deputy Prime Minister Chaudhary Devi Lal and Indian National Lok has fielded a low profile candidate, Umed Singh Redhu to retain its Jind assembly seat.
Congress’ decision to field a sitting MLA and a popular Jat face, Surjewala from Jind, itself signifies how seriously the party is taking this bypoll and hoping for a positive outcome to send across a message that it is on comeback trail ahead of Lok Sabha polls.
Surjewala is also in-charge of All India Congress Committee’s (AICC) communication wing.
On the other hand, the BJP’s choice Krishan Middha is apparently based on the number of urban-rural voters as well as caste equations in the Jind assembly seat.
The bye-election to Jind assembly seat was necessitated following the demise of Hari Chand Middha in August last year. INLD’s Hari Chand Middha had represented the Jind seat for two consecutive terms in 2009 and 2014.
According to the political analysts, for the national parties –BJP and Congress— the outcome of keenly watched electoral battle could indicate the sentiments of voters from all castes and communities ahead of general polls while for the INLD and its splinter group JJP, the result would decide their dominance and future in the state politics.
The crucial Jind bypoll has come after last month’s Congress’ victory in three states in assembly polls and BJP’s victory in all five mayoral seats in civic polls in Haryana.
Jind, considered the heart of Haryana’s Jatland, has more than 1.7 lakh voters including over 1.07 lakh urban voters and nearly 62,500 living in villages.
Jind is an urban seat with a mix of Bania, Jat, Brahmin, Punjabi and Scheduled Caste voters. The constituency is stated to have around 45000 Jat voters, over 80000 OBC and SC voters, over 11000 Baniya voters, more than 12000 Brahmin voters among others.
In 2014 assembly polls, INLD’s Harichand Middha had won with 31,631 votes and defeated BJP candidate Surinder Barwala with a small margin 2,257 votes. It is believed that Middha managed two consecutive victories from Jind seat due to voting by Jats, core supporters of the INLD and the Punjabi community in the constituency.
Political observers feel, with the candidature of Harichand Middha’s son Krishan Middha from the Jind seat, the BJP hopes that sympathy factor will work in party’s favour. Krishan Middha, a doctor by profession is also likely to get support of Punjabi community in the constituency.
While the BJP is banking on non-Jat polarization to ensure smooth sailing for Krishan Middha in Jind, the Congress believes that Jat leader Randeep Surjewala can pull off this election as he can connect with urban mass and get support from all sections.
As the Jat vote is likely to be divided between Jat candidates of Congress, JJP and INLD, the Congress is hoping to get support from other communities to ensure victory at Jind assembly seat. The support from local Jat strongman Jai Prakash, who is independent MLA from Kalayat could also prove beneficial for Surjewala in some pockets of the assembly seat, say political observers.
Surjewala, who is a former Haryana Minister had previously contested assembly elections from Jind district’s Narwana assembly constituency but had later shifted his base to Kaithal following Narwana becoming a reserved constituency. Surjewala’s claim to fame was defeating INLD chief and former Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala twice from Narwana assembly seat.
On personal front, a favorable outcome for Surjewala in Jind bypoll would further cement his position as probable Chief Ministerial candidate for the assembly polls later this year in Haryana.
During the electioneering, the BJP has been attacking Surjewala for being an “outsider” in Jind and an “absentee” in Haryana Assembly while the Congress leaders are highlighting the failures of BJP Government on various issues including law and order, lack of basic facilities.
Responding to BJP’s attack, Congress’ Surjewala said, “I am from Jind and not an outsider. Jind bypoll will be the beginning of end of BJP’s rule in the state.”
Confident of getting support from all sections of the community, Surjewala said, “The BJP Government has failed to perform in the last over four years of its tenure and the people of Jind will teach a lesson to the BJP.”
On caste combinations in Jind, BJP’s Harichand Middha, a Punjabi candidate said, “As I alongwith my father was associated with the INLD for a long time, I am hopeful that a section of Jat voters will also vote for me. Other communities will also support me to ensure BJP’s victory in Jind.”
Being in power in Haryana for over four years now, the BJP does not want to lose in Jind as the defeat would be a major setback to its image ahead of general polls and assembly polls in the state.
Considering the significance of bypoll outcome, Haryana Cabinet Ministers have been camping in Jind and intensively campaigning for the party candidate. Chief Minister Manohar Lal had also visited Jind constituency for campaigning on January 18.
The faction-ridden Congress in Haryana has also come together to lend support to Surjewala. Two-time former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Haryana Congress chief Ashok Tanwar, CLP leader Kiran Choudhry, senior leader Kuldeep Bishnoi, Rohtak MP Deepender Singh Hooda among others have been aggressively campaigning for the Congress candidate in Jind.