M A I N   N E W S

Wheels within wheels in the battle for Sirsa
Naveen S Garewal
Tribune News Service

The line-up Congress: Ashok Tanwar (sitting MP) | INLD: Charanjit Singh Rori | BJP-HJC: Sushil Indora | AAP: Poonam Chand Ratti Crisis of political dharma SAD (B) is allied with the BJP in Punjab, but is opposing the saffron party and its ally HJC Punjab Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal will be addressing rallies in favour of INLD in Haryana on Wednesday Chautala’s INLD is supporting Modi for PM, but is opposing saffron party candidates. It has even adopted SAD (B) candidate Charanjit Singh Rori in Sirsa

Narwana (Sirsa), April 1
Political dharma has been put to test here in Sirsa. This reserved parliamentary constituency is witnessing political intrigues like nowhere in Haryana. The wheels-within-wheels has forced most politicians to indulge in political gymnastic that will determine the future of state politics.

With the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) adopting the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) MLA as its nominee, a chasm has been created between parties and attention has been diverted from the Congress to each other.

The INLD has announced its support for Narendra Modi as the prime ministerial candidate. Yet, it has fielded Charanjit Singh of the SAD against Haryana Janhit Congress’ (HJC) Sushil Indora. The HJC is an alliance partner of the BJP in Haryana, while the BJP is in alliance with SAD in adjoining Punjab.

Confusion is apparent in the minds of the people who live in towns such as Khanauri in Punjab and work in Narwana or vice-versa. A party that is a friend here is a foe a little distance away. When Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal starts campaigning in Haryana tomorrow, he will not know how to seek votes for the INLD that fielded candidates against the BJP and HJC in all 10 Assembly segments. The BJP clarified its position through a statement from Modi that said the party had no truck with the INLD as of now and it would go ahead to seek votes for its own candidates and two of the HJC -- Sushil Indora (INLD leader-turned Congressman-turned HJC nominee) in Sirsa and Kuldeep Bishnoi contesting Hisar.

While the INLD, HJC and the BJP train their guns at each other, the Congress has fielded its state president Ashok Tanwar on this reserve seat. The sitting Sirsa MP’s entry has turned this contest into a "question of prestige" for his party. Tanwar was appointed state Congress chief on the eve of elections to curb factionalism, which is yet to be seen with several leaders preferring to stay away from campaigning or in some cases switching over to the BJP.

Sirsa shares its borders with Punjab. A part of Dabwali town for instance falls in Haryana under the Sirsa segment while the remaining comes under Punjab’s Bathinda segment. There are houses whose front gate falls in Haryana and the rear portion in Punjab. Even National Highway-10 divides Punjab and Haryana at some points!

SAD and BJP workers are using the same vehicle to canvass and addressing people from a common stage. But just across this invisible line in Haryana, BJP workers are supporting the HJC, which is opposed to the INLD. Even INLD nominee Charanjit Singh’s village, Rori, falls in both states.

The Assembly constituency of Narwana was in the past known for clashes between Randeep Singh Surjewala and Om Parkash Chautala, but with it becoming reserved along with the parliamentary segment of Sirsa in 2005, Narwana now faces sheer neglect.

After the Assembly segment was reserved following delimitation, Chautala moved to Uchana while Haryana minister and AICC spokesman Surjewala shifted to Kaithal. The 1,85,575 voters are not happy with the sitting MP. “Ashok Tanwar shows up only at poll time,” says Naresh Gupta, who runs an electronic shop in city.

“SAD will definitely impact the outcome in Sirsa given its location. People here are equally interested in Punjab and Haryana politics and the conflict of interest between parties has made the contest very interesting,” said Sunil Kumar of Narwana, who perceives a Modi wave in the region.