High-stakes political contest on in Karnal

The battle for the Karnal Municipal Corporation (KMC) elections intensified as former Mayor and BJP candidate Renu Bala Gupta, former Deputy Mayor and Congress candidate Manoj Wadhwa filed their nomination papers for the mayoral post on Monday, the last day of filing the nomination papers. In the last mayoral elections, Gupta had contested and won against Manoj’s wife Asha Wadhwa who was an Independent candidate.

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With experienced leaders from both parties in the race, the upcoming municipal elections promise to be a high-stakes political contest in Karnal.

Gupta filed her papers after performing ‘havan’ at Aggarwal Dharamshala. During the roadshow, she was accompanied by Haryana Education Minister Mahipal Dhanda, former Assembly Speaker and Karnal MC elections in-charge Gian Chand Gupta, and Karnal MLA Jagmohan Anand, Assandh Yoginder Rana, and senior party leaders. Her husband, BJP district president Brij Gupta, also submitted nomination papers as her covering candidate.

Meanwhile, Congress candidate Manoj Wadhwa was joined by senior party leaders, including former MLAs Sumita Singh and Rakesh Kamboj, AICC secretary Virender Rathore, Haryana Youth Congress president Divyanshu Budhiraja and former Haryana Minority Commission Chairperson Trilochan Singh.

The leaders of both parties and candidates expressed confidence in their chances of winning.

Renu Bala Gupta, thanking the BJP leadership for reposing faith in her, said, "I am grateful to the party for giving me this opportunity. I appeal to the people of Karnal to support me as they have in the past. We will secure a decisive victory."

Education Minister Mahipal Dhanda took a dig at the Congress, saying, "The Congress is like a chariot without coordination, with different leaders pulling in different directions. The people have already rejected them, and they will do so again."

Former Assembly Speaker Gian Chand Gupta emphasised the BJP’s strong position and said, “The enthusiasm among the BJP workers and supporters is a clear indication that Renu Bala Gupta will secure a third consecutive victory with a huge mandate."

Karnal MLA Anand also expressed confidence in the BJP’s victory, highlighting the party’s developmental work and strong organisational structure. "Our campaign has officially begun and we will reach out to every household with the message of development under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Minister Nayab Saini’s leadership," he said.

Meanwhile, Congress candidate Manoj Wadhwa launched a scathing attack on the BJP, alleging misgovernance and corruption in the municipal body.

“The people of Karnal know that no significant development has taken place in the past 10 years. The BJP has failed on all fronts, and that is why the people will elect the Congress this time with a massive margin," Wadhwa asserted.

He further criticised the BJP government, calling it "a regime of corruption." "The election is not just about a mayoral post; it is about the future of Karnal. The people are with us, and we will fight this battle together," he added.

Former MLA Sumita Singh emphasised Wadhwa’s potential. “Our candidate Manoj Wadhwa is young, energetic and capable. We are fighting this election together, and we are confident of his victory. He is a good human being and will serve the people well,” she said.

Budhiraja, who had contested the last Lok Sabha elections from Karnal seat against former CM Manohar Lal Khattar, claimed that they would win the elections with a massive margin.