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Sushil Manav
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, January 30
Key contestants in the Jind Assembly byelection have expressed confidence that they will win as the counting of votes begins on Thursday morning.
“I have no doubt about my victory,” BJP’s candidate Krishan Middha told The Tribune over phone. Seemingly surrounded by his supporters as their voice could be heard during the conversation, Middha claimed his victory margin would be more than 8,000.
“In villages, my contest was with Digvijay Chautala (supported by the Jannayak Janata Party) and, in the town, with Randeep Surjewala (Congress nominee),” he added. Hisar MP Dushyant Chautala, however, contested Middha’s claims and expressed confidence that his younger brother Digvijay would win by a handsome margin.
“The result will not only give a boost to the JJP ahead of parliamentary elections, but also give a befitting reply to those who termed our outfit a bachcha party (fledgling party),” Dushyant said. Surjewala could not be contacted as he was stated to be on a pilgrimage to Vaishno Devi. His media incharge, Bhupinder Singh Bhuppi, claimed the senior Congress leader would win by at least 5,000 votes.
Fortunes fluctuate in ‘satta’ market
Fortunes of key contestants in the Jind bypoll continue to fluctuate in the ‘satta bazaar’ as nonplussed punters have been changing betting rates for them during the past 48 hours. The punters, who saw a clear victory for BJP candidate Krishan Middha till Sunday, began showing an equal fight between him and JJP-backed Digvijay Chautala in the middle of voting at 2 pm. On Wednesday, it was again advantage BJP in the ‘satta bazaar’. The punters give Congress candidate Randeep Surjewala third position.