Panchayats, protests being held to back, oppose ticket aspirants

Tribune News Service

Rohtak, August 31

Both the BJP and Congress, expected to contest for power in the coming elections, are in the process of finalising their nominees for the poll. Consequently, pressure games are on at various places of the state either to oppose the candidature of some ticket aspirant or to create an atmosphere in favour of some other contender.

To this end, protests and panchayats are being held in various Assembly segments. Residents of Behlaba village under Meham Assembly segment organised a panchayat yesterday and demanded that the Congress high command should field a co-villager in the fray this time. A total of 28 aspirants have applied for the Congress ticket from Meham.

Similar panchayats were organised in Beri and Badli Assembly segments of Jhajjar district recently to mount pressure on the Congress regarding ticket allotment. As many as 21 aspirants each, including sitting MLAs, are vying for Congress ticket from Beri and Badli segments.

A protest was organised in Gohana (Sonepat) on Friday to oppose the candidature of a former MP after his name as the BJP candidate for Gohana Assembly segment began doing the rounds in the political circles. A large number of aspirants are vying for the BJP ticket from Gohana.

Similar reports about the resistance of strong contenders for BJP ticket by locals are coming from Barwala (Hisar), Safidon (Jind) and Ratia (Fatehabad). They are opposing the entry of some outsider in the electoral battle in their Assembly segment concerned, and demanding that a local be made the nominee.

Interestingly, many ticket aspirants are also adopting the route of showing their strength by mobilising people in their poll programmes so as to prove themselves influential and electable candidates. This tactic is being followed especially by those who may also jump into the fray either as an Independent or as a nominee of another party on not getting the ticket from their party.

“Pressure politics is also a vital part of the electoral battle as it not only draws the attention of people ahead of the poll but also mounts pressure on the party leadership for considering their name for the ticket. Hence, the practice of showing strength is common at the time of ticket allotment. Interestingly, some aspirants also use to hire media teams to create an atmosphere in their favour,” said Jitendra Bhardwaj, a political analyst.

He asserted that the leadership of all parties too like such practices as it helps them find out leadership quality, capability of mobilising people and political skills of the ticket aspirants ahead of ticket allotment. Moreover, those interested in trying their luck in the poll battle may also know the pulse of electors ahead of the elections, he added.