CM ups focus on Karnal MC polls

Parveen Arora

Tribune News Service

Karnal, December 10

The mayoral election in Karnal has turned into a faceoff between the BJP and united Opposition, forcing Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar to campaign for the party candidate ahead of schedule.

The BJP has fielded Renu Bala Gupta as its mayoral candidate. Independent candidate Asha Wadhwa is being supported by the INLD-BSP combine, former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and several former MLAs of the Congress.

Since the Karnal is the Chief Minister’s constituency and his prestige is at stake, Khattar and his ministers are not leaving any stone unturned to ensure victory of the party candidate.

The Chief Minister was scheduled to campaign in Karnal on December 13 and 14, when a roadshow and public meetings were planned.

As per party sources, with resentment brewing among party workers as well as local residents, the Chief Minister arrived on Sunday evening.

He had dinner with traders in the city and held closed-door meetings with party workers, leaders and prominent residents of the city to discuss the poll strategy.

The source claimed that the meetings of the Chief Minister with residents reduced resentment among party leaders, who were pacified.

On Sunday evening, the Chief Minister held meetings with the party think tank and discussed the poll strategy. During dinner with traders, he exhorted them to strengthen the BJP.

Later, he held a meeting with party leaders and took feedback on each ward. As per the sources, he asked the party cadre to work at the ground level to ensure a BJP sweep.

“We will win all five seats as the Congress, INLD and other opposition parties have left the field. They have extended support to an independent candidate, but we will win,” said the Chief Minister.

On Monday morning, he met members of various sections of society and urged them to support the BJP mayor candidate.

He went to the residence of Congress leader Desraj Gaba to enquire about his health. As per the sources, he sought the support of Gaba’s family as he was a prominent Punjabi face in the district.