Kalanaur communities field Prem Kumar as Independent candidate against Cong nominee
Resentment prevails among local leaders and workers of the Congress and the BJP over the allocation of tickets of their respective parties in the Kalanaur (Reserved) Assembly constituency of Rohtak district.
Especially the members of the Ravidass community, who were urging both parties to field a candidate from their community this time, are angry with the Congress as well as the BJP for not acceding to their request.
The community members held a meeting to chalk out their strategy in Kalanaur on Sunday evening.
“Members of all communities present at the meeting decided to field Ravidass Sabha head and former Congress leader Prem Kumar from the Kalanaur (Reserved) constituency this time,” said local Zila Parishad member Sonu Pilana, who was among the 55 applicants for the Congress ticket from the constituency.
The community members stated that there was resentment against the sitting MLA and Congress candidate Shakuntala Khatak, who had been occupying the seat since 2009.
A letter signed by 2,100 workers and supporters of the Congress opposing Khata’s candidature had also been submitted to the Congress leadership, but she succeeded in getting it.
A section of local leaders and workers of the BJP is also unhappy with the allotment of the party ticket to former Rohtak Mayor Renu Dabla. BJP SC Morcha state vice-president Surajmal Kiloi today resigned from the party to register his protest against the allocation of the ticket to the former Mayor.
Surajmal Kiloi was also an aspirant for the BJP ticket from the Kalanaur constituency.
After the allotment of the party ticket to Renu Dabla, he, along with some other leaders, had urged the party leadership to reconsider its decision, but to no avail. Hence, Surajmal Kiloi resigned from the BJP. He is likely to join the Congress.
“I had left the Congress and joined the BJP in 2014. I worked hard for 10 years, hoping to get my due place in the BJP. However, the BJP has ignored me and other workers, due to which I have been compelled to leave the party,” said Surajmal. He also asserted that the BJP should have fielded a member of the Ravidass community from the Kalanaur constituency.
