BJP improves show in K’shetra

Nitish Sharma

Tribune News Service

Kurukshetra, May 24

The BJP has strengthened its position in the Kurukshetra Lok Sabha constituency with a victory in these elections.

In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP candidate won in six Assembly constituencies (Radaur, Ladwa, Shahabad, Thanesar, Pundri, and Kaithal), the Congress in two (Pehowa and Gulha) and the INLD in one (Kalayat). In these elections, however, all nine were led by the BJP with impressive margins. The margin of victory has also jumped from 1,29,736 votes in 2014 to 3,84,591 in these elections.

Nayab Singh Saini polled 6,88,629 votes, Nirmal Singh managed to secure 3,04,038 while BSP-LSP candidate Shashi Saini finished third with 75,625 votes.

JJP-AAP candidate Jai Bhagwan Sharma stood fourth with 68,513 votes, while INLD candidate Arjun Chautala, who was contesting his first election, ended fifth with 60,679.

Saini maintained his upward graph from the very first round. He was polled 55.98 per cent, while Nirmal got 24.71 per cent of the total votes.

The INLD has suffered a huge setback in Kurukshetra as compared to the last elections, as Arjun ended fifth. In 2014, party candidate Balbir Singh stood second.

Saini said, “It’s the victory of the people and the policies of the Modi and Khattar governments. Promoting Kurukshetra as a religious tourist spot and generating employment would be my top priority.”

Congress candidate Nirmal Singh, who stood second, admitted there was a wave in BJP’s favour. He said, “I got a good support from here but people have voted in BJP’s favour. I respect people’s mandate and will continue to work for the people of Kurukshetra.”

In 2014, BJP candidate Raj Kumar Saini had defeated his nearest rival INLD candidate Balbir Singh Saini by a margin of 1,29,736 votes. However, Raj Kumar turned rebel later and formed his party. Following this, Nayab Singh Saini was introduced as the party candidate. As many as 24 candidates were in the fray.