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Sushil Manav
Tribune News Service
Sonepat, October 18
Kavita Jain, the lone woman minister in the Manohar Lal Khattar government, is locked in a direct contest with Surender Panwar of the Congress in Sonepat, an urban constituency with just two villages — Baijalpur and Raipur.
According to sources, of the 2.15 lakh voters in the constituency, Punjabis comprise the single largest chunk with 35,000 votes followed by Jats 25,000, Dalits 20,000 plus and Brahmins and Aggarwals 15,000 each.
“The Congress candidate has won the goodwill of the poor sections. He has been distributing shawls, blankets, helmets, water containers and ration,” points out a taxi driver. He has little doubt that Panwar has the edge over his rival. But his son, who runs a fruit stall, disagrees. “Jain has been representing this constituency for 10 years. She has nursed the constituency well as minister. People are not going to waste their vote on the Congress,” he argues.
The local authorities had some days ago raided a building following complaints that the Congress candidate was distributing flour and rice among the poor for votes. Panwar shrugs off the allegation disdainfully. He calls it a mere ‘drama by the BJP’ to defame him. “I’m going to win this seat by at least 50,000 votes. I have been midst people all these years while Kavita Jain and her husband were seldom seen around,” he claims.
Hukam Chand, who runs a confectionery shop, is all praise for both the Prime Minister and Haryana Chief Minister. “Khattar has run the government honestly. The BJP candidate is likely to win the seat comfortably,” he says.
The minister’s spouse, Rajiv Jain, has been canvassing door-to-door in Sonepat town.
“Kavita won the last election by 25,000 votes, defeating Dev Raj Dewan of the Congress. This time, the margin will be 50,000,” he claims, calling the election as one between Khattar and former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda.
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