ASSEMBLY POLL 2024: Direct contest likely between veteran, greenhorn in Bawal

Bawal (Reserve) Assembly constituency, located on the Delhi-Jaipur National Highway, and about 15 km away from Rewari district headquarters, is all set to witness a direct contest between a veteran and greenhorn in the Assembly elections scheduled on October 5. A total of 10 candidates are in the fray from the area.

BJP bid to counter anti-incumbency

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Ex-minister Muni Lal Ranga (69), PhD from Kurukshetra University, is again trying his luck on the Congress ticket from here while the BJP has fielded Director, Health Services, Dr Krishan Kumar (55) in place of former Public Health and Engineering Minister Dr Banwari Lal, a two-time MLA, to counter his anti-incumbency.

Former minister Muni Lal Ranga (69), PhD from Kurukshetra University, is again trying his luck on the Congress ticket from here while the BJP has fielded Director, Health Services, Dr Krishan Kumar (55) in place of former Public Health and Engineering Minister Dr Banwari Lal, a two-time MLA, to counter his anti-incumbency.

Dr Krishan, considered a loyalist of Union Minister and Ahir stalwart Rao Inderjit Singh, jumped into the fray after taking voluntary retirement from the government services a day before he was given the BJP ticket. Belonging to Bhathera village here, he also served as Civil Surgeon in Rewari and remained well-connected to locals during his service period here.

On the other hand, Dr Ranga, belonging to Dilyaki village, served as Health Minister in the then state government led by Om Prakash Chautala after winning the election from Bawal in 2000. Thereafter, he tried his luck in the Assembly elections twice but could not succeed. Ranga was defeated by BJP candidate Dr Banwari Lal by a margin of 32,245 votes in the previous elections held in 2019. Besides them, AAP has fielded Jawahar Lal, INLD Sampat Ram Dahanwal and Loktanter Suraksha Party has nominated Dr Lekhram Mehra.

As far as the current political scenario in Bawal is concerned, the BJP candidate is totally dependent upon the clout of Rao Inderjit Singh in the area and development works undertaken here during the BJP regime in the past decade. Dr Banwari Lal seems to be not much active in the constituency, indicating differences among local BJP leaders. Similarly, the Congress candidate is banking upon the anti-incumbency factor and inclination of a major chunk of Jat voters towards the Congress. Rohtak MP Deepender Hooda has sought votes for Dr Ranga by addressing a poll meeting in Bawal town. Bawal is an industrial town where Ahirs hold the key to victory while Jats and Gujjars too have a considerable number of votes.