Intense battle likely in Kalanwali segment

Sirsa, August 23

As Haryana prepares for the Assembly elections, the Kalanwali (Reserved) constituency is becoming a major battleground. The seat, previously a stronghold of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) with support from the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD), is now drawing intense interest from candidates across multiple parties. The race is shaping up to be a fierce contest among contenders from the Congress, BJP, and INLD.

Historically, Kalanwali was a stronghold for the SAD because of its location near the Punjab border. The SAD candidates won twice in the previous three Assembly elections with INLD’s support. The constituency, which was part of the Rori Assembly segment before 2009, is a rural area predominantly inhabited by the Sikhs and Punjabis. Drug addiction remains a serious issue in the region.

In the current election cycle, Shishpal Keharwala, the sitting MLA from Congress, is seen as a leading candidate. Despite competition from 14 other aspirants within the Congress, Keharwala’s strong local support makes him a likely candidate for the party’s ticket.

On the other hand, Balkaur Singh, who joined the BJP in 2019 after winning in 2014 under the SAD-INLD alliance, is determined to reclaim his seat. Despite rumours of a strained relationship with the BJP leadership, Singh is actively campaigning for the ticket, bolstered by his connection with former Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar. He faces competition from Rajendra Desujodha, who recently joined the BJP and is also seeking the party nomination.

Adding another layer to the contest is Gurtej Singh, the son of the late INLD veteran Budh Singh Sukhchain. Gurtej retired from his government job a year ago to enter politics, a move seen as a strategy to secure the INLD ticket. His early retirement and background in the region give him a strong base of support.

With these three prominent figures vying for the Kalanwali seat, the 2024 elections promise to be highly competitive. Each candidate is employing various strategies to secure his party’s nomination, making the final outcome likely dependent on strategic alliances and last-minute negotiations. As a result, Kalanwali is expected to be one of the most closely watched constituencies in the upcoming elections.

Electoral history

2004: Kalanwali was part of the Rori Assembly segment

2009: Charanjeet Singh Rori of SAD defeated Sushil Kumar Indora of the Congress by 12,544 votes

2014: Balkaur Singh of SAD defeated Shishpal Keharwala of the Congress by 12,965 votes

2019: Shishpal Keharwala of the Congress defeated Rajendra Desujodha of the BJP by 19,243 votes