The poll campaign in the Assembly segment of Kairana that came to limelight for allegations of “Hindu migration” from the region has not become a polarising factor as development remains the main issue here.
The BJP MP from Kairana Hukum Dev Singh who floated the theory of “Hindu migration” is focusing on “issues of development” in the region and even claims to have support of “Muslims” for her daughter Mrigyanka Singh, a BJP candidate from Kairana.
The constituency has around two lakh Hindu Jats, Gujjar, Kashyaps and Thakur and around one lakh Muslim voters. Besides Mrigyanka Singh (BJP), there are three strong candidates Nahid Hassan (sitting SP MlA), Diwakar Kashyap (BSP) and Anil Chauhan (RlD).
Though the BJP MP does not want to talk about “Hindu exodus”, his supporters claim many shops are bearing board of ‘dukan bikau hain’ (shop is for sale) and refer to alleged migration from Kandla (Shamli) and Kairana on account of “goodnagardi of illiterates” and “protection given to them by the State administration.”
Kairana Assembly seat has been with the BJP from 1996 to 2102 when it was consistently held by Hukum Dev Singh on the BJP ticket before he became an MP in 2014.
Prior to Singh, the seat was won in 1991 and 1993 by Janata Dal’s Manawar Hassan.
In 2014 bypoll, SP’s Nahid Hassan won from the Kairana Assembly seat defeating BJP’s Anil Chauhan (Hukum Dev Singh’s nephew) who is now a candidate on the RlD ticket.
“law and order and security, besides development of the area are the main issue”, says the BJP MP adding “Muslims also want security”. He says main contest is between the BJP and the SP “as BSP is out of contest”. He claims that Muslims would also “substantially vote for the BJP” and plays down “migration” plank.
Singh, however, goes on to quote Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh “Palayan karne walon ko Palayan Karna hoga…(Those forcing migration will have to migrate)”.
Asked about the communal scenario, Mrigyanaka says, “Maximum riots took place during the tenure of Akhilesh Yadav, no industry
came during his term… his is a vote-bank politics”.
Does development pays offIJ “Development does not fetches vote but creates atmosphere…”, she signs off before hitting the road in the constituency with his father.
Kairana lok Sabha constituency comprises five Vidhan Sabha segments including Nakur, Gangoh, Kairana, Thana Bhawan and Shamli. (Kairana is a part of the Shamli district and one of the five Assembly constituencies in Kairana).
In Shamli, Congress MlA Pankaj Malik is pitted against Tejender Nirwal (BJP), Vijender Malik (RlD), Ch Mohmd Islam (BSP) and Mansingh Chauhan (Independent - a Gujjar). The seat seems to experience a tough triangular contest between two Jats and a Muslim with an Independent Gujjar thrown in the battle. In Thana Bhawan, BJP’s ‘hot head’ and an accused in communal riot Suresh Rana is party’s candidate.