Karnal MC poll anytime, litmus test for Khattar

Parveen Arora

With the state government hinting at holding the Municipal Corporation elections in Karnal anytime, political parties have pushed their probable candidates to start campaigning. Besides, probable independent candidates have also started campaigning even on social media. The government has already announced direct election for the Mayor’s post, making more candidates interested in contesting this time.

According to political pundits, it will be a litmus test for Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar in his home constituency of Karnal where the Municipal Corporation elections can be held anytime; the tenure of the last body ended in July.

Sources say that the BJP has sent a list of probable candidates from all 20 wards to state party president Subhash Barala, while the INLD and the Congress are finalising their candidates.

In 2013, the BJP had contested the corporation elections in 18 out of 20 wards and left two wards for its partner Haryana Janhit Congress (HJC). The BJP had fought the elections under the supervision of Manohar Lal Khattar, who was at that time a member of the BJP core group in Haryana and was also appointed the observer for the municipal elections. The BJP had won only three wards, the Congress six, the INLD two while independent candidates wrested the remaining wards.

Renu Bala Gupta, who had contested the elections as an independent candidate, was elected as Mayor. She had defeated Congress-supported candidate Kailash Goel. BJP councillor Krishan Garg was elected as Senior Deputy Mayor, while INLD councillor Manoj Wadhwa was elected Deputy Mayor. After sometime, the Mayor and eight other councillors had joined the BJP.

In the upcoming civic body elections, the BJP is depending on development works being done by the state government headed by Khattar. During this period, the Chief Minister had made several key announcements for the overall development of Karnal city, but most of the projects have remained on paper or the work on them have commenced but is likely to miss the deadline. This has given opposition leaders a chance to attack the government.

Political pundits say the inclusion of Karnal in the Smart City programme may come handy for the BJP, though nothing has been done on the ground.

The sources in the BJP claim that the anti-incumbency factor is gaining ground in Karnal city. BJP leaders had in the past objected to the working style of the Chief Minister’s camp office. They had even pointed a finger at the slow pace of development. Khattar had visited the residences of party workers to pacify them. Political observers say it will not be a cakewalk for the BJP this time.

Several key projects are pending for petty reasons, leading to resentment among residents. The inauguration of Kalpana Chawla Government Medical College and Hospital, beautification of Karan Taal, shifting of vegetable market, buses for the city bus service, construction of tiled roads, installation of a storm water system, restarting the civil hospital, and a traffic park are among the major projects that have been completed, while the work on the western bypass, and smart road, shifting of dairies, and widening of major entry roads in Karnal city are under way. The work on the eastern bypass, multi-storey parking, Mughal Canal phase-II and III, development and upgrade of Karna Lake and Oasis Tourist Complex are yet to commence.

Residents of Narsi village, which has been included in the Municipal Corporation jurisdiction, are deprived of basic civic amenities. Harsh Kumar, a resident of Narsi village, says that they are still waiting for civic amenities despite the Chief Minister’s assurance.

Amanpreet, a resident of Karnal city, says the poor condition of roads reflects the actual situation in the Chief Minister’s constituency and apathy of the district administration towards development. Roads in various sectors are also in a poor condition. The government should focus on civic amenities to pacify residents.

Jagmohan Anand, district BJP president, is hopeful of winning the elections with a massive margin. He says under Khattar’s leadership the BJP will win all wards. He claims that there is no resentment among party workers.

Manoj Wadhwa, former Deputy Mayor and INLD leader, claims that the government has failed to fulfil promises made to people before the last Assembly elections. “We will expose the government during the Municipal Corporation elections”. Former district president of the Congress Surinder Narwal says that the BJP will not win even one ward.