After Hoodas, now Saini to spice up poll battle in Rohtak

After former Chief Minister Bhupinder Hooda and his MP son Deepender Hooda campaigned for Congress candidates in the past two days, now Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini is set to energise the BJP’s local workers and nominees by visiting Rohtak on Monday.

During his visit, Saini will release the BJP’s manifesto, Sankalp Patra, for the upcoming civic body polls and campaign for the party’s candidates vying for the positions of Mayor and municipal councillors. BJP state president Mohan Lal Badoli, along with other prominent leaders, will also be present at the event.

Following this, the Chief Minister will attend a state-level Kisan Samman Samaroh in Jhajjar city. On the occasion, he will watch the live telecast of Prime Minister Narendra Modi from Bhagalpur (Bihar), where the 19th instalment of the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi will be released by the PM to farmers' bank accounts nationwide.

Though five candidates are contesting for the mayoral post, the main contest is expected between the BJP and the Congress. The BJP has fielded its SC cell national vice-president Ram Avtar Valmiki, while the Congress has nominated former municipal councillor Surajmal Kiloi as its candidate. The mayoral position is reserved for Scheduled Caste candidates. Top leaders from both parties have started campaigning in Rohtak.

Talking to media at the BJP state headquarters on Saturday, BJP state president Mohan Lal Badoli claimed that the party’s manifesto would emphasise the development of the state and address a range of local issues.

“While the manifesto will cover state-wide concerns, it also includes specific issues for municipal corporations, councils, and committees. All preparations for the manifesto’s release have been completed,” said Badoli, claiming that the BJP would win the election not only in Rohtak but in all other districts as well.

He pointed out that while the municipal elections are scheduled for March 2, six candidates had already been elected unanimously. “The BJP is contesting the election on its symbol in 10 municipal corporations and five municipal councils. In 14 municipal committees, the BJP candidates are vying for the post of chairman while in Pundri, the party has fielded its nominee for all seats of councillor,” he added.

Meanwhile, Local Congress MLA and senior Congress leader Bharat Bhushan Batra is aggressively campaigning for the party candidates by addressing poll meetings in various municipal wards. He claimed that the Congress candidates would win the election comfortably as the BJP government had utterly failed to resolve local issues leading to acute resentment among people.

Notably, Bhupinder Hooda on Friday and Deepender Hooda on Saturday sought votes for the party candidates in Rohtak. Their visits not only energised the party workers but also boosted the poll campaign of the Congress candidates.