Kalayat MLA keeps off Surjewala’s campaigning

Vishal Joshi
Tribune News Service
Jind, January 16

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As canvassing for the Jind byelection is picking up, the role of Jat leader and Independent Kalayat MLA Jai Parkash, aka JP, may be significant.

The 65-year-old ‘Bhai Jai Parkash’, as officially named in the Vidhan Sabha record, has been elected five times from separate segments of the state.

Political analysts say JP maintains political influence among Jats in various districts, particularly Jind, Kaithal and Hisar, that he has represented. He had been seeking the Congress ticket for his son Vikas Saharan, a political novice.

The state party election committee had reportedly cleared Vikas’ name, but Congress president Rahul Gandhi announced the candidature of his trusted ally Randeep Surjewala. Surjewala’s political bête noire-turned-friend JP remain absent from Jind.

JP and Surjewala had, in September last year, publicly announced the decision to sink their differences and work for the development of the area. On being contacted, JP avoided discussing the byelection.

At the age of 32, JP became a Deputy Minister at the Centre after he won his first Lok Sabha election in 1989 as Janata Dal candidate.

He defeated senior Jat leader and then Congress candidate Birender Singh, who is now in the BJP and a Union Minister.

Political analysts said Jind was a Jat-dominated segment and JP might have an important role in the byelection.

Kushal Pal, state coordinator of Lokniti, said: “Though he had stated to have sunk rivalry with Surjewala, JP was staying away from the Congress candidate after his son’s political ambitions were dashed.”

Differences ‘ironed out’ 

Kalayat MLA Jai Parkash, aka JP, and Randeep Surjewala had, in September last year, publicly announced the decision to sink their differences and work for the development of Jind. On being contacted, JP avoided discussing the byelection.