Independent MLA pins blame on BJP for delay in welfare projects

Inadequate health care and civic amenities are the common refrains in the constituency. Locals attribute the long-pending issues to the absence of an MLA from the ruling party over the last decade. Nitish Sharma and Satish Seth report

Upbeat over the recent performance in the Lok Sabha elections, the saffron party is eyeing the first-ever win in the Kalayat constituency of the Kaithal district. Kalayat was a reserved constituency but was declared a general seat after delimitation in 2009.

The seat is currently being represented by Independent MLA Jai Prakash, who had defeated sitting INLD MLA Rampal Majra in 2014.

While BJP leaders have been claiming that the government has developed the constituency like other constituencies, the sitting MLA has accused the BJP of delaying welfare projects.

Yogesh Garg, a businessman, said: “The Lok Sabha election is going to make an impact in the Assembly poll too. The sanitation condition has improved but the constituency has many other issues. The absence of a strong political alternative, however, will give an advantage to the saffron party.”

The constituency has several long-pending issues and voters say that the absence of an MLA from the ruling party over the last decade is the reason behind the issues remaining unaddressed.

A sewage treatment plant is under construction, road network has been strengthened and crores of rupees have been spent on waterworks, but issues like poor drainage, lack of industries, and inadequate health care and civic amenities are yet to be looked into. These concerns are likely to play a crucial role in the elections.

A political observer said: “The constituency hasn’t seen much development as the MLAs in the last two terms were from the Opposition. The situation now favours the BJP but it will depend on the candidate too. The BJP has carried out development work and has been making efforts to make a mark in the constituency. A split in the INLD and the faction-ridden Congress have also raised the BJP’s hopes of a win. The sitting MLA is set to get a tough competition.”

Talking of the shortcomings, Rajeev Rajput, an agriculturist, said: “Poor drainage in Kalayat and in nearby villages is a major problem. Ponds keep overflowing and no efforts have been made to address the issue.”

“The shortage of drinking water and the depleting water table also need to be addressed,” said another farmer.

Krishna Gautam, priest of Kapil Muni Tirtha, said: “The pond of the Tirtha lacks the facility of flowing water. In the absence of the supply of fresh water, the pond starts emitting foul smell. The government must make arrangements to ensure that the pond gets the facility of flowing water.”

Legislatorspeak 

I have raised the issues of the constituency in the Assembly and got many works done. The BJP keeps trying to take credit for the welfare works but the fact is that it has been the reason for the delay of several projects. I will ensure that all pending projects are completed in the next term. — Jai Prakash, independent

Oppositionspeak 

The MLA has failed to develop the constituency. The  develop-ment that Kalayat has witnessed is due to the policies of the BJP government and the issues raised by the district unit of the BJP. There is a need to bring industrial units in Kalayat so that jobs can be generated for the youth. — Dharm Pal Sharma, BJP leader

Unemploy-ment, lack of health care,  inflation, education and poor drainage need to be addressed. Polluted water supply in the Rajound area has been a major issue as people in the area have been suffering from diseases like hepatitis. There is no caretaker of this constituency. — Rampal Majra, INLD leader

Saffron party eyeing first-ever win 

The constituency hasn’t seen much development as the MLAs in the last two terms were from the Opposition. The situation now favours the BJP but it will depend on the candidate too. The BJP has carried out development work and has been making efforts to make a mark in the constituency. A split in the INLD and the faction-ridden Congress have also raised the BJP’s hopes of a first-ever win here. The sitting MLA is set to get a tough competition. — A political observer 

Total voters: 2,01,891 

1,09,785 men

92,104 women

2 transgender

Sitting MLA: Jai Prakash (Independent)

Contenders: 

BJP: Dharm Pal Sharma, Kamlesh Dhanda, Jaideep Rana 

INLD: Rampal Majra

Congress: Bobby Mann 

JJP: Anju Jaglan