BJP, Congress make efforts to regain Guhla

The Guhla Assembly segment is gearing up for a direct battle between the BJP and Congress as both parties are working hard to reclaim their lost political ground.

The BJP had last won the seat in 2014, when Kulwant Ram Bazigar defeated Congress nominee Dillu Ram by a margin of 2,440 votes. This year, the saffron party has once again expressed its faith in Bazigar. Meanwhile, the Congress has fielded Devender Hans, who had contested as an Independent candidate in 2019 and finished third with 29,473 votes.

The seat was last won by the Congress in 2005, when Dillu Ram defeated INLD candidate Buta Singh by a margin of 10,127 votes. In 2019, JJP nominee Ishwar Singh won the seat but recently quit the primary membership of the JJP and joined the Congress under the leadership of Kumari Selja. Singh was among the ticket aspirants.

As per the data revealed by the Election Commission, there are nine candidates in the fray for this seat. Apart from Kulwant Ram Bazigar, and Devender Hans, the other candidates are Krishan Kumar (JJP), Poonam Rani (INLD-BSP), Rakesh Kumar (AAP), Bhupinder Singh (Shiromani Akali Dal-Amritsar), Manoj Kumar (Mission Ekta Party), and Independents Amarjeet Singh and Naresh Kumar.

BJP nominee Bazigar is focusing on the work accomplished by the party over the past decade, promoting the ‘Haryana Ek, Haryanvi Ek’ vision and emphasising job creation based on merit by abolishing ‘Parchi and kharchi’ (recommendation and bribe). Bazigar said, “People of Haryana will elect the BJP for the third consecutive term.”

“There is a major problem of drainage system in rural areas. If elected as an MLA, I will ensure that this problem is resolved in the villages. Parks and vyamshalas will be developed in rural areas,” said Bazigar.

Congress candidate Hans, however, is criticising the government on issues such as unemployment, poor infrastructure and law and order, and inflation. “This government has failed to provide permanent jobs and proper roads to the people of the state,” said Hans.

“The youth are struggling to get jobs under the present government, but the Congress will provide 2 lakh permanent jobs to them. If elected as an MLA, I will ensure that overall development of the constituency takes place,” he said.

Political experts anticipate a direct contest between the BJP and Congress, with caste dynamics likely to play a significant role. “Floods and poor condition of roads are key issues. The BJP and Congress are making efforts to ensure their victory. The BJP is seeking votes on development and jobs on merit basis, while Congress is highlighting unemployment, inflation and other issues,” said Jaibir Dhariwal, a political analyst and professor at RKSD College.