Kalayat segment: Cong struggled to reclaim seat in last 3 elections

Tribune News Service

Kaithal, September 2

The Kalayat Assembly segment is one of the oldest constituencies of the state, which was in the reserved category till 2009. After the delimitation, the Pai Assembly segment was dissolved and a major part of it was added in the Kalayat Assembly segment and converted into the open category.

The data of the Kalayat segment reflects a diversification in voter preferences over the years. The Congress has faced significant challenges over the past three elections here, failing to secure a victory despite its strong presence in earlier years.

The segment has witnessed 13 elections from 1967 to 2019, with the Congress emerging victorious three times, maximum in the constituency. The party’s last win was in 2005 when Geeta Bhukal secured the seat. Before that, the Congress had claimed victory in 1968 and 1972, with Bhagtu Ram and Bhagat Ram as its winning candidates, respectively.

In the initial elections, the Swatantra Party and the Janata Party made their mark. Maru from the Swatantra Party won in 1967, while Prit Singh from the Janata Party secured the seat in 1977. The Lok Dal had its successes in 1982 and 1987, with Jogi Ram and Banarsi winning, respectively. The Janata Party’s Bharat Singh won the seat in 1991, followed by Ram Bhaj from the Haryana Vikas Party in 1996. The INLD’s Deena Ram won in 2000. After the Congress’ last victory in 2005, the seat was won by the INLD candidate Ram Pal Majra in 2009, while an independent candidate Jai Parkash won in 2014, and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Kamlesh Dhanda was victorious in 2019. Political experts said the Congress had been unable to reclaim the Kalayat seat in the past three elections, indicating a decline in its influence in the region.

This trend suggests that the electorate has been seeking alternatives, perhaps driven by local issues, candidate appeal or changing political dynamics.

“The INLD, independent and the BJP have gained the seat in three plans. It reflects a diversification of political loyalties in Kalayat. The candidates are yet to be announced, but it seems to be a multi-corner contest,” said Dr Ashok Kumar Atri, associate professor of political science at RKSD College.

The INLD has already announced its candidate by fielding former CPS Rampal Majra. Sitting MLA Kamlesh Dhanda is among the ticket aspirants from the BJP, while former MLA Satwinder Rana, HPCC Kisan Cell chairman Dharamvir Singh, Vikas Saharan, Randhir Singh Rana, Sweta Dhull, Anita Rani, Rameshwar Dass are among the 29 ticket aspirants for the Congress ticket.

Pai segment dissolved after delimitation

• Before delimitation, the Pai Assembly segment was an important constituency in the region.
• Vishal Haryana Party’s Jagjit Singh Pohlu won the seat in 1977, followed by Lok Dal’s Nar Singh Dhanda in 1982 and 1987.
• Congress’ Tejender Pal Singh secured victory in 1991, while Ram Pal Majra won the seat in 1996 and 2000 from the Samata Party and INLD, respectively.
• In 2005, Independent candidate Tejender Pal Singh won the seat.