ASSEMBLY POLL 2024: BJP keen on making ‘lotus’ bloom in Rohtak

Tribune News Service

Rohtak, August 28

The ruling BJP, which does not have a single seat in any of the four Assembly segments of Rohtak district, is eager to get a foothold here. The reasons are not hard to imagine: Apart from being the political capital of Haryana, Rohtak is the hometown of Congress bigwig Bhupinder Singh Hooda, the Leader of Opposition and former Chief Minister.

Hence, the ruling party desperately wants to wrest at least one of the four Assembly seats in Rohtak to make its presence felt in the citadel of the Opposition.

As of now, Congress candidates represent three Rohtak constituencies, including Rohtak, Kalanaur (reserved) and Garhi Sampla-Kiloi, in the state Assembly.

The fourth constituency — Meham — is represented by Balraj Singh Kundu, an Independent candidate.

Political analysts point out that the BJP support base in Haryana is largely confined to the GT Road belt and the Ahirwal region of the state.

In the given circumstances, the BJP may be able to send out a message if it succeeds in hoisting its flag in the Rohtak region, which is considered the centre of the Jat heartland.“The BJP supporters mainly comprise the urban upper castes, including the Punjabi, Baniya and Brahmin communities. Winning a seat in Rohtak district will indicate that the BJP has been able to attract a certain chunk of Jat voters as well,” observed an analyst.

Hence, the state as well as national leaders of the BJP always make it a point to attack Hooda and his son Deepender, who is the sitting Lok Sabha MP from Rohtak, with their famous “baap-beta” barbs. The state headquarters of the BJP as well as the RSS are located in Rohtak.

“Rohtak has always been important to us. The party’s think-tank has a special focus on Rohtak this time too, and has been holdingbrainstorming sessions to chalk out strategies to ensure that our lotus blooms here too,” said a BJP leader, adding that much attention was being paid to the selection of the party candidates for the Assembly segments in the district.

Keen to attract Jat voters

The BJP supporters mainly comprise the urban upper castes, including the Punjabi, Baniya and Brahmin communities. Winning a seat in Rohtak district will indicate that the BJP has been able to attract a certain chunk of Jat voters as well.— A political analyst