Things have got better, civic issues untouched

THE Rewari Assembly segment, considered the nerve centre of Ahirwal politics, has witnessed improvement in the condition of roads during the past five years but long-standing issues like improper drainage, traffic congestion, poor sanitation, discharge of effluents by Rajasthan’s industrial units towards Dhaaruhera town, shifting of the bus stand and stray cattle menace are still unaddressed.

Despite all, people of this Ahir-dominated constituency are content with the policies and governance of the state government to a large extent. 

Significantly, they admit that the government has done nothing special to resolve local issues but in the same breath, they do not hesitate from saying that it has performed well in recruitment in government jobs and in removing regional discrimination.

The BJP won the Rewari seat for the first time in the 2014 elections when its candidate Randhir Kaprivaas emerged victorious by a huge margin of around 45,000 votes. Senior Ahir leader and six-time Congress MLA Capt Ajay Yadav came third.

In the last Lok Sabha elections, BJP candidate Rao Inderjit also took a massive lead of around 85,000 votes over Congress candidate Capt Yadav in the constituency.

“Factionalism in the state Congress and the second term for Narendra Modi-led government at the Centre are two major factors that have given Rewari electors a strong reason to continue to support the BJP in the Assembly elections too. The tag of a non-Jat party that the BJP carries is also proving instrumental for it in garnering the support of a large section of the dominant Ahir community,” said Naresh Chauhan, an advocate.

Chauhan said that though Jats are not a decisive vote bank in Rewari, people, especially Ahirs, were happy with the BJP following the defeat of former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and his son Deepender Hooda in the recent Lok Sabha elections. The Ahirs feel that they would be worst affected if Jats get reservation in the B-category of Backward Classes, he added.

Vijay Kumar, a businessman, said that the promises made by the BJP during the 2014 Assembly elections had proved hollow as Rewari city is still grappling with the problems of improper drainage system, traffic chaos, stray cattle and poor sanitation. Half-hearted efforts were made to resolve the issues during the past five years, he added.

Prakash, a resident of Kharkara village, said that the recruitment of a considerable number of local youths on Group-D posts was one of the major reasons that electors support the BJP. 

Several local issues were still unaddressed, but the government had put a check on corruption and also provided good governance, he added.

Santosh, an elderly woman from Gangachay Ahir village, said that the supply of electricity and potable water have improved a lot during the BJP regime. 

Total voters 2,31,699 

1,22,559 men

1,09,139 women

1 transgender

Sitting MLA

Randhir Kaprivaas (BJP)

Contenders

BJP: Randhir Kaprivaas, Aarti Rao, Arvind Yadav, Satish Khola, Yoginder Paliwal , 

Congress: Capt Ajay Yadav, Chirnjeev Rao, Mahabir Yadav Masani 

INLD: Dr Rajpal Yadav 

Pending issues 

• Improper drainage system
• Traffic congestion
• Poor sanitation
• Lack of public toilets

Legislatorspeak

The BJP government has worked for the overall development of Rewari. New roads have been constructed, an underpass is being built at the double railway crossing, and transportation, health care services, supply of potable water and electricity have improved. Randhir Karpivaas, BJP

Oppositionspeak

The BJP government has failed to bring any new project to Rewari during the past five years. It did not even pay heed to resolving local issues such as water-logging, traffic congestion and lack of health care facilities. Capt Ajay Yadav, Congress leader