Legacy put to test, Surjewala campaigns vigorously for son

The Kaithal segment has become a crucial battleground not only for the Congress but also for Rajya Sabha MP Randeep Singh Surjewala, who aims to secure his family’s legacy through the debut of his son Aditya Surjewala.

The outcome of this contest is seen as a litmus test for Randeep and his political future.

Randeep’s family has held the seat for three consecutive terms: his father, Shamsher Singh Surjewala, in 2005; and Randeep in 2009 and 2014.

However, in the 2019 elections, Randeep lost the seat to Leela Ram by just 1,246 votes. Aditya is contesting against Ram this time.

Experts say if Aditya, 25, the youngest Congress candidate, loses the seat, it could severely impact Randeep’s standing in Haryana politics. “A victory on this seat will not only preserve his political legacy but will also acknowledge his contributions to the region,” said Dr Kushal Pal, a political expert.

Randeep has been campaigning aggressively to woo voters across Kaithal, reminding them of the development work done during his tenure and that of his father. In recent months, several leaders from the BJP and other parties have joined the Congress under his leadership, which has boosted his image and campaign.

“The BJP has failed to provide jobs for the youth, forcing them to sell their land for migrating abroad. Many have fallen victim to death abroad, trapped by fraudulent agents. Yet both the Modi government at the Centre and the Nayab Saini-led Haryana Government have turned a blind eye and remain indifferent to the suffering of the youth,” said Randeep Surjewala during a ‘Yuva Hunkar, Badlenge Sarkar’ convention.