BJP fields Sardana as mayoral candidate in Hisar

Deepender Deswal

Tribune News Service

Hisar, November 30

As expected, the BJP has fielded Gautam Sardana, who belongs to the Punjabi community, as the mayoral candidate in the Hisar municipal corporation elections. Sardana, who had joined the BJP about two months ago, had contested the Assembly elections twice from the Hisar segment — first as an independent candidate and then on the ticket of the Haryana Janhit Congress.

Besides Sardana, former deputy chairperson Rekha Aren were among the front-runners for the BJP ticket. Other aspirants were Surender Lahoria, Sunil Verma, and Yogesh Bidani. Kamal Gupta of the BJP is the sitting MLA, and the party was expected to prefer a Punjabi candidate for the mayoral post. BJP district president Surender Punia said that the final name was decided at a meeting held in Delhi tonight.

After the Congress decided not to contest the poll on the party symbol, outgoing Mayor Shakuntala Rajliwal has announced her candidature. She expects the support of former minister Savitri Jindal, who was instrumental in getting her installed as Mayor last time.

Another Congress ticket hopeful Arvind Kharinta, a former chairman of the Municipal Corporation, has also decided to fight the mayoral election as an independent candidate. Kharinta enjoys a good reputation and has the potential to put up a good fight.

Political observers were expecting it to be a fight between the candidates belonging to the Bania and Punjabi communities. If former minister Hari Singh Saini’s daughter-in-law Rekha Saini joins the fray, it can become a four-corner contest, as besides her, the BJP nominee, Rajliwala and Kharinta will be serious contenders. Rekha expects support from rebel INLD leader Dushyant Chautala.

The INLD, which too has announced to fight the mayoral election, is looking for a good candidate.

The town has 2.33 lakh voters comprising around 17 per cent to 18 per cent belonging to the Punjabi community, and around 15 per cent to the Bania community. Besides, voters belonging to the Saini, Gurjar, Jat and other castes have a vote share in that order.