Congress struggles to finalise candidates for Karnal, Kurukshetra

ONCE A CONGRESS STRONGHOLD, THE PARTY HAD LOST THE TWO SEATS IN 2014

KARNAL:WITH no clarity on candidates for the Karnal and Kurukshetra seats, the road to the GT Road Belt in Haryana is likely to prove rocky for the Congress.

Both the seats were considered to be a stronghold of the Congress before the Modi wave swept the state during the last general elections in 2014, rejuvenating the saffron party in the GT belt. Since the party has fielded mostly old guards in its first list of six candidates, experts say the party is likely to field candidates with high chances of winning from these seats so as to improve the party’s performance ahead of the assembly elections in October.

WHY JINDAL IS LEAVING KURUKSHETRA?

Though there is no official announcement, the grapevines suggests that two-time MP Naveen Jindal is reluctant to fight from Kurukshetra this time. Jindal, who remained at the third position in the last election, returned to Kurukshetra in February this year to hold meetings with his supporters. He even remained with party president Rahul Gandhi during Haryana Congress’ roadshow. But his name did not figure in the first list of six candidates released by the party on Saturday, giving rise to speculations that he is unwilling to contest.

WHO WILL FIGHT FOR THE CONGRESS?

Political experts believe that if Jindal backs out, it may prove harmful for the Congress, which was banking on the rich industrialist, and did not have a strong leader from this region to defeat the BJP, which has fielded sitting minister Nayab Saini. Moreover, Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala, who is an MLA from Kaithal, which falls under the Kurukshetra Lok Sabha constituency, also did not want to contest. There are reports that the party may consider former Congress leader and independent Kalayat MLA Jai Prakash and former MP Kailasho Saini for the Kurukshetra seat.

KULDEEP SHARMA WANTS KARNAL FOR SON

In the Punjabi-dominated Karnal constituency, since the BJP has already fielded a Punjabi, Sanjay Bhatia, the Congress is left with no option but to field a Brahmin. “Yes I am keen on getting a party ticket for my son Chanakya from Karnal,” Kuldeep told HT. On whether he would contest if the party gives ticket to him, he said, “This decision will be taken by the party leadership.” Kuldeep is banking on the legacy of his father Chiranji Lal Sharma, who represented Karnal four times, but the party leadership is not keen on fielding his son from Karnal. Besides Sharma, Virender Maratha and Virender Rathore, but if the Congress fields a nonbrahmin from Karnal, it will not have any other seat for a Brahmin candidate.