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Sandeep Rawat
Tribune News Service
Haridwar, January 18
The Jwalapur Assembly segment, a suburban portion of Haridwar city, has a considerable population of the minority community. It was carved out in the last Assembly election from parts of now freezed Bahadrabad, Lal Dhang and existing Bhagwanpur Assembly segments. The Jwalapur segment falls in the Ghad rural stretch.
The BJP, this time, has replaced its sitting legislator Chandrasekhar Bhattewala with party’s district president Suresh Rathore. Notably, Bhattewala had emerged victorious from the Bhagwanpur segment in the state’s first Assembly elections in 2002 defeating BSP’s Sheesh Pal Saini and Samajwadi Party’s Brij Rani.
In the 2012 Assembly elections, Chandrasekhar had polled 21,303 votes while the BSP’s Madan Lal was second with 20,745 votes. Congress candidate Brij Rani had polled 20,649 votes. Brij Rani is one of the contenders for the Congress ticket from this seat.
Sources in the BJP say the reason behind Chandrasekhar Bhattewala not getting the ticket this time is his age and also the “anti-incumbency” factor. No development work carried out by Bhattewala in the constituency is also a reason that went against his candidature, sources said. A matriculate, Chandrasekhar, kept himself confined to some of his close aides, another reason behind the party losing interest in him.
Bhattewala, however, claims to have come up with several development works in the backward Ghar area. “More than 10 bridges on rivers have been constructed in my segment. Recarpeting and laying of new roads have also been done through my MLALAD funds. Some government junior high schools have been upgraded. Equal MLA funds have been distributed for the construction Hindu as well as Muslim shrines. Owing to the biased approach of the Congress-led state government, I couldn’t do more as expected as a legislator majorly depends on state government funds and projects,” he maintains.
Suresh Rathore, who is in the fray for the BJP, says he will take forward the unfinished projects of Bhattewala and seek his guidance during electioneering and also in future if he wins this Assembly seat.
BSP’s Madan Lal, who lost last time, accuses Bhattewala of having flunked in bringing development works and schemes. “People got swayed by Chandrasekhar’s past political stature and false assurances. People have realised their mistake as they have suffered for five years for making a wrong selection,” Lal says.
The BSP has named Mulki Raj from this reserved seat, who has already started his election campaign by reaching out to Dalits and minorities in particular. He says mass development work will be carried out for all segments of society.
Congress Mahanagar unit president Anshul Shrikunj said the long pending demand of people of connecting the area with the national highway through a bridge was fulfilled by Chief Minister Harish Rawat with the construction of Shri Bhagwan Vishwakarma bridge from Ardh Kumbh budget last year. Before that, people had to cover a distance of around four kilometre to reach the highway. Most of the people were making the use of railway track as a bridge but it was extremely risky as the sudden arrival of train midway resulted in fatalities.
“Several mishaps have occurred in the absence of the bridge. The construction of Shri Bhagwan Vishwakarma bridge is a big relief as it’s now safer, convenient and time-saving for people. The area residents have direct access to Dehradun-Haridwar-Delhi highway,” Shrikunj added.
Pooja, a homemaker, says Jwalapur, despite being in proximity to the Haridwar city, lacks a full fledged government hospital, degree college and transport system. “Commuting in Jwalapur is a nightmare for women and girls due to high crime rate. Congested lanes, traffic jams, lack of proper sewerage, drainage system and poor infrastructure make it look like a backward area,” she added.
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