Key nominees file papers for Jind byelection

Vishal Joshi
Tribune News Service
Jind, January 10

Candidates of four key political parties filed their nominations for the Jind byelection on Thursday. BJP’s Krishan Middha, INLD’s Umed Redhu, JJP’s Digvijay Chautala and Congress’s Randeep Surjewala filed papers on the last day.

INLD’s nominee Redhu had on Tuesday filed papers as an Independent. But the party showed faith in Redhu, vice chairperson of Zila Parishad and now fielded as an INLD candidate.

Randeep Surjewala, AICC national media in-charge, submitted his papers in the presence of state Congress president Ashok Tanwar, former CM BS Hooda and CLP Kiran Chaudhry.

However, Surjewala’s political bête noire-turned-friend Jai Prakash aka JP was not present. JP, a former Union Minister and Independent MLA from Kalayat in Kaithal district, and Surjewala had, in September last year, publicly announced to sink their differences and work for the development of the area.

Veteran Congress leader Capt Ajay Yadav told The Tribune here that till Wednesday, there was a proposal to field JP’s son Vikas Sarahan from Jind.

“However, the state leadership resented the proposal as the bypoll is crucial for the Congress and the party cannot bank on a novice. We may have supported if JP was willing to contest. But Surjewala is the best bet,” said Yadav, who was also present for Surjewala’s nomination.

Hooda and Bishnoi also expressed confidence in the Congress nominee.

Kaithal MLA Surjewala said: “Jind cries for development and I will become a voice for the local population. The BJP is anti-people and their policies have caused resentment among all sections of society.”

State BJP president Subhash Barala and Education Minister Ram Bilas Sharma accompanied the party nominee for filing nomination. Both leaders said Middha would win due to the developmental initiatives taken up in the segment by the ruling party.

Hisar MP Dushyant Chautala’s younger brother Digvijay said Jannayak Janata Party (JJP) would prove its electoral popularity in the bypoll. Braving the charge of being an outsider, Digvijay said he enjoyed the support of party activists.