Man of the people, rebel for a cause

READY FOR NEW INNINGS The 4-time MLA and first-time MP had announced he would not contest the LS polls, but did a U-turn after BJP’s win in Jind bypoll; is famous for defeating 3 generations of ex-CM Bansi Lal’s family

ROHTAK: A four-time Haryana lawmaker who made his Lok Sabha debut in 2014, Dharambir Singh, 63, is a shrewd politician known for his ability to feel people’s pulse.

A known turncoat, Dharambir, who was a Congress MLA from Sohna, shifted his loyalties in 2014 to join the BJP. His being fielded from Sohna assembly seat on a Congress ticket in 2009 was a surprise and was a result of his proximity to then chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda.

Much before the Modi wave in 2014 Lok Sabha polls, Dharambir, who often wears a saffron “kurta”, had started to move towards the BJP. His political shift paid off as he contested and won the Lok Sabha polls on a BJP ticket from the Bhiwani-Mahendergarh constituency. The MP had announced that he would not contest the Lok Sabha polls and go for the assembly elections.

Zorawar Sangwan, a khap leader close to Dharambir and who has closely followed his political career, says the MP did not feel home in the BJP and wanted to quit. However, a day after BJP’s thumping win in the Jind assembly bypoll, Dharambir did a U-turn and said he was open to contest the upcoming Lok Sabha polls again.

In his constituency, Dharambir, a former farmer and social worker, is famous for defeating the three generations of former Haryana chief minister Bansi Lal’s family. He won against the former the CM, his son Surender and his granddaughter Shruti Choudhry, daughter of Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Kiran Choudhry.

His vast political experience has ensured that Dharambir retained a good support base. People in his constituency say he is always a call away. “Unlike other leaders, Dharambir always picks up the phone. There would not be a soul who can complain that he is not accessible,” says Nirmal Singh, who runs a social welfare organisation for the poor in Bhiwani.

CONCERN FOR FARMERS, ILLEGAL MINING

His concern over the poor farmers’ income, illegal mining and improving healthcare had made the first-time MP raise his voice by shooting letters to his party high command. Dharambir even wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi requesting him to increase the minimum support price (MSP) of the farmers’ produce by 2.5 times. “Farmers are beyond caste and religion,” he wrote. The MP also wrote to then Union environment minister Prakash Javadekar demanding a CBI probe into illegal mining in Dadam hills in Bhiwani.

Dharambir, who is also known for his rebellious disposition, was among the BJP MLAs and MPs who openly raised a banner of revolt against Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar. The MP had accused the Khattar government for ignoring the development of Bhiwani. He recently conducted a surprise check at a hospital in Charkhi Dadri and was critical of available facilities and infrastructure.

NO WORK TO SHOW ON GROUND

For Dharambir, challenges are galore as his constituency is among the most backward areas of the state. The roads in the Bhiwani-Mahendergarh constituency are in a poor condition. Bhiwani and Mahendergarh also suffer from water scarcity as groundwater table has been receding rapidly over the years. The non-completion of the longpending Sutlej Yamuna Link (SYL) canal has added to the water woes of the area.

Dharambir’s aides say people mostly come up with complaints regarding shortage of water and poor road infrastructure in this constituency.

His opponents maintain that there has been hardly any work in these two sectors. They feel this will cost him the next election.

“His performance has been below average. He has done nothing that an MP is supposed to do. He paid no attention towards power availability and sports infrastructure in villages. There is nothing on the ground,” said Wazir Mann, general secretary of the Jannayak Seva Dal.

There has been no development and only jumlas. The condition of roads is abysmal and people continue to die in accidents. There is no water. How does he claim to be pro-farmers when he doesn’t give them water for their crops or daily chores? SHRUTI CHOUDHRY, former MP