RS poll: BJP brainstorming; Cong playing waiting game

Chandigarh: With the Election Commission of India (ECI) announcing the rollout for the election to the single seat of Rajya Sabha necessitated in Haryana, state BJP as well BJP high command have started the brainstorming to pick the candidate.Polling for the Rajya Sabha seat is scheduled for Sept 3.

According to the information, the saffron party has in mind the caste equation as well the impact of selection of candidate on assembly elections before zeroing in on any probable. The probable candidates include former minister Capt Abhimanyu, former minister Kiran Choudhary and BJP secretary Om Parkash Dhankar among the Jat leaders. Former Karnal MP Sanjay Bhatia and a few leaders from non-Jat castes are also believed to be in the reckoning. The election has been necessitated following the election of Deepender Singh Hooda of Congress to Lok Sabha in the recently held Lok Sabha polls. During the last RS polls, the BJP had supported independent RS MP Karitikeya Shama who defeated Ajay Maken of Congress in a direct contest. The other BJP MP Krishan Lal Panwar was elected unopposed. According to the information, one section of party leaders are keen on a Jat face out of Choudhary, Capt Abhimanyu as well as Dhankar. Since Capt Abhimanyu is a tall leader from Hisar belt, his elevation would get the party the desired support in assembly elections in Hisar belt as well as in Rohtak. Dhankar is former state president and has support across the state, so he too could be the party’s choice to woo the special group of voters who influence elections. Choudhary could be compensated for joining BJP from Congress as she has been indirectly getting the favours. Referring to Bhatia, sources said he too can be compensated for giving his seat to Union minister Manohar Lal Khattar. Secondly, Bhatia continued to be Khattar’s blue-eyed boy whom Khattar wanted to compensate. His chances of nomination gained momentum especially after party appointed Mohan Lal Badoli the state BJP president. Bhatia has a good influence on voters across Karnal and Panipat districts as well. Meanwhile, Congress is yet to open its cards on whether it would contest Rajya Sabha polls or not. The party has fallen short of numbers and is expecting cross-voting from Choudhary. The CLP leaders have also pressed before speaker Gian Chand Gupta to bar Choudhary from participating in the voting system.Enquiries made in Congress revealed that the state leadership as well as high command is in a wait and watch situation for the BJP to declare its candidate. Participation in the election has also triggered a war of words between JJP and Congress leaders about the number game. In the 88-member House, the BJP has a total 41 MLA and support of two MLAs. Besides this, two JJP MLAs who are facing disqualification petitions before the Speaker are supporting the BJP govt while the opposition claims to be strong when it comes to the number game.