In Sonepat, Cong plays Punjabi card, BJP banks on experience
The political landscape in Sonepat is once again buzzing as the stage is set for the mayoral bypoll. The major political parties have announced their candidates, setting the stage for an intriguing contest between the BJP and Congress.
Keeping social engineering at the forefront of its strategy, the ruling BJP has fielded seasoned politician Rajiv Jain, a former media adviser to the Chief Minister. Meanwhile, the Congress has played the Punjabi card by nominating Kamal Diwan, son of two-time MLA Dev Raj Diwan.
Diwan deposits Rs 1 cr for no-dues certificate
The Municipal Corporation received Rs 1.15 crore as property tax in a day on Monday. It was mandatory to get the no-dues certificate from the property tax branch for the mayoral post candidates. As per sources, the maximum outstanding amount stood against Congress candidate Kamal Diwan. When he went to file the nomination, the MC demanded the pending dues. So, he deposited the pending Rs 1.15 crore and filed his nomination.
On the last day of filing nomination, five candidates — BJP candidate Rajiv Jain, Congress’ Kamal Diwan, BSP’s Dharamvir, AAP’s Dr Kamlesh Kumar Saini and an Independent candidate Ramesh Kumar Khatri — filed their nominations for mayoral elections on Monday.
BJP state chief Mohan Lal Badoli on Monday inaugurated the election office of the BJP candidate Rajiv Jain and addressed a gathering. Jain went to the MC to file his nomination along with Badoli.
Badoli said that the lotus would bloom in the civic poll and the triple engine government would work for development in the state. He appealed to the people for Jain’s win. Taking a dig at the Congress, he claimed that it is breathing its last as it would be defeated very badly in the civic poll also. Earlier, a road show was organised by the BJP in the city to woo the voters.
Rajiv Jain said, “My priority is to complete several pending projects, including the canal water project, sewage project, the covering of drain No. 6 and the construction of new power houses. Additionally, I will focus on improving cleanliness and addressing streetlight issues in the city.”
Meanwhile, Congress candidate Kamal Diwan, along with Sonepat MP Satpal Brahamchari and former MLA Surender Panwar, organised a road show, went to the MC office and filed his nomination. Brahamchari said that people know the truth of BJP leaders very well. Kamal Diwan’s father Dev Raj Diwan had always served the people with honesty and Kamal Diwan would also serve the people, he said.
The mayoral seat fell vacant after Nikhil Madaan, the first elected Mayor of Sonepat, won the Assembly election on a BJP ticket.
