Prem Lata vs Dushyant in Uchana Kalan again

Deepender Deswa
Tribune News Service
Hisar, October 1

Two political families are set for another faceoff in the Assembly poll from Uchana Kalan in Jind district with the BJP renominating sitting MLA Prem Lata. Jannayak Janta Party leader Dushyant Chautala has already declared his intention to take the field from this Jat-dominated constituency.

This will be a repeat of the 2014 contest when Prem Lata (59), wife of former Union minister and Rajya Sabha member Birender Singh, defeated Dushyant by 7,480 votes. Uchana Kalan has been a traditional bastion of Birender as he has represented this seat five times since 1977.

Dushyant’s grandfather Om Prakash Chautala shifted to this seat after Narwana in Jind district was reserved for Scheduled Caste legislator in delimitation in 2009. He defeated Birender by 621 votes in 2009. It was a revenge of sorts when Prem Lata defeated Chautala’s grandson in 2014. Dushyant had then contested as INLD candidate.

Suresh Kumar of Palwan village said it would be a keenly watched seat for the state yet again. “Both Prem Lata and Dushyant have been equally active in this segment. It is difficult to predict the outcome, but we will definitely relish the contest. We hope that spotlight on our segment will make political leaders work for development,” he said.

The Congress and INLD are yet to declare their candidates. Political experts said the INLD candidate could harm Dushyant’s prospects due to the ongoing rivalry within the Chautala clan after the spilt in the INLD.