The Modi magic is clearly visible in Haryana’s Sonipat legislative Assembly constituency as the BJP is in the forefront when it comes to convincing the voters that development will take place. The fight is between the BJP and the Indian National lok Dal (INlD), and the Congress appears to have been pushed to the third position. Both parties are locked in an intense battle of supremacy as the Congress-governed State goes for polls on Wednesday. Political pundits in the city say that the BJP may pull it off as division of Jat votes will benefit the party. The area is abuzz with passionate debates over the prospects of candidates in the upcoming election.
However, it is undeniable that the BJP has a strong competitor in INlD for the seat of Sonipat as locals have put aside caste-based votes. The BJP has the support of the majority in the urban areas, while the INlD has its support base in the rural segments which has made the battle very interesting. The area is known to be dominated by staunch followers of the Congress’ Bhupinder Singh Hooda, who now seem to have shifted their loyalties and are looking at a more panoramic view of the political scenario.
Where on one hand, Kavita Jain’s (BJP) earlier stint in the constituency has left many hoping that she would bring about a change, on the other, Surender Panwar’s (INlD) community service, strong personality and close connection with the Jat-dominated community has numbers flowing in from villages within the constituency. Either way, voters are now looking at individual candidates as well as the party before casting their vote on Wednesday.
However, the voters are keeping their options close to their chest and one cannot tell whether the seat will go to Panwar or Jain as the number in support for both is quite visible. Though Panwar does stand out as a stronger candidate than Jain because of his outgoing personality, the real result will depend on whether the locals vote for their preferred candidate or their preferred party. The urban crowd seems more in the favour of voting with party preferences. According to them, Jain’s victory would mean that there would be a direct link of the constituency leader with the Center resulting in better performance. The Modi wave will also be a factor in shifting almost 25 to 20 per cent votes towards Jain. The rural crowds of Sonipat have a different opinion though. They feel that since party politics has not worked for them all these years, casting their vote based on the candidate would be a better option.
Some of the main issues that the urban belt in Sonipat faces are of unrepaired roads and encroachments on the pavements. Residents say that the Government has neither done anything to improve the state of roads nor has it got rid of shops and street vendors from the pavements.
Prem Batra, a businessman who has been living in Sonipat for several years, feels that the only way any constituency can develop is if the Centre supports the leader. “Usually due to party clashes, people suffer because work is not done properly. Thus, most people will either vote for someone if his party’s leader is likely to become the Chief Minister or if the party is at the Center,” said Batra, adding that looking at INlD leader Om Prakash Chautala’s current popularity, many would go for Panwar in Sonipat. Another businessman Rakesh Kalra, who has been running a shop in the vicinity, said that the Congress’ Dev Raj Diwan does not have much of a stronghold this time, but may surpass Panwar following sticks to the Congress. Kalra, however, pointed out that even though Jain’s chances this time in the constituency were strong, since the BJP has not won even in Haryana with a full majority, people will be apprehensive while voting for her.
The rural belt however reflected a very different trend. In Fazilpur village, resident Satvir Singh said that all parties and candidates have a tough fight in this election but Panwar and Jain were the real competitors. Most villages in Sonipat face major problems of electricity and roads. However, in Fazilpur, residents were complaining about not having a proper crematorium. “The crematorium is so small that if god forbid two people in the village die on the same day, one has to wait for the other to cremate the body,” said Sukhbir Singh, who added that Jain had in the past raised the issue about the cremation ground when she held the seat in the Assembly but because of the Congress at the Center, nothing was done.
In another village called Bajipur, resident Om Prakash said that with Jain and Panwar being their only two viable candidates to vote for, they were actually confused. A big problem in their constituency is of digging. Residents say that outsiders come and dig up their land to sell the mud and sand in cities for high rates. According to them, this has deteriorated their lands and the Government instead of taking action against this, gives them lesser compensation for their land. Another resident Dharamveer said, “We don’t know right now who will actually bring about a change. Panwar is a man who does lot of community service and we feel he can bring about a change. But in the past, Jain has shown that she will stand up for us.”
The legislative constituency of Sonipat has a total of 1,74,846 voters of which 82,306 are female and 92,540 are male. While most men in the area are very active and aware of the political scenario, the women were not too interested in voting. Shakuntala, a resident, said that it didn’t matter to her as to who will win. “These things don’t make a difference to us because irrespective of who wins, there is not going to be any development here. I will go inside and vote for anyone randomly,” she said. Another resident Savita Malik reiterated the same thing saying that she would cast her vote to whoever her husband votes because she was too tired of hoping for change. “None of them ever do anything. We have trusted too many and all have disappointed us,” she said.
This feeling that irrespective of who wins no work will be done was seen among the menfolk too. However, they were focused about whom to cast their vote to. RS Kamra, one of the oldest residents of sector 14 in Sonipat, said that whoever wins the seat, the situation of the constituency will not improve. “With the trend floating around, I have a feeling that Kavita Jain from BJP may take the seat. While I know that with BJP in power, this will be a good win, I also know that no development will take place. This is not only with her but even other candidates. We desperately need better roads and water problems need to be solved. We also need the sanitation to be taken care of. But Sonipat has not evolved in years now, it is difficult that anything will change now,” said a disgruntled Kamra who has been living in Sonipat since 1978.