The campaigning for high-stakes bypoll to Ellenabad assembly seat ended on a high note on Wednesday with the political heavyweights from ruling Bharatiya Janata Party-Jannayak Janata Party, Congress and Indian National Lok Dal addressing a series of public meetings to give one final push to woo the voters.
The Ellenabad bypoll, which is scheduled to be held on October 30, is witnessing a triangular fight with BJP-JJP joint candidate Govind Kanda, Congress candidate Pawan Beniwal and INLD nominee Abhay Singh Chautala in the fray. A total of 19 candidates are contesting the bypoll on the assembly seat.
The seat became vacant in January after INLD’s lone MLA Abhay Chautala had resigned in protest against the three farm laws.
INLD’s Abhay Chautala who is eyeing his fourth straight win on the Ellenabad seat on Wednesday, got support of farmers’ leader Rakesh Tikait and former state Congress chief Ashok Tanwar.
As a fitting end to BJP-JJP’s campaign, the Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala addressed a series of public gatherings urging voters to support Govind Kanda in the polls.
Haryana Congress chief Kumari Selja also addressed a series of public meetings in various villages of Ellenabad, seeking votes for Beniwal.
According to the political analysts, the outcome of the bypoll on November 2 will decide the fate of INLD in state politics while it is considered a referendum on the BJP-JJP Government after the completion of its two years tenure in the midst of ongoing farmers’ agitation against three central farm laws.
For the Congress, the victory will further consolidate its position as a key opposition party in Haryana, the political observers say.
The ongoing farmers’ protest was a key election issue in the bypoll.
CM, Dy CM held campaign in last two days
Both Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala held extensive campaigning for Govind Kanda during October 26 and 27. The Chief Minister addressed over a dozen public meetings in the last two days in various villages in the constituency.
Highlighting the achievement of his government, Khattar sought votes for ensuring a corrupt free and transparent government for the people of the state.
He also highlighted the welfare schemes launched for welfare of farmers in the state.
With Ellenabad known as a stronghold of Chautala clan, Khattar while addressing a public meeting said now, Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala, JJP chief Ajay Singh Chautala and Power Minister and independent MLA Ranjit Singh Chautala are part of the BJP-led coalition government.
A big part of that (Chautala) family is with us, he added.
He also appealed to the voters to exercise their franchise without any fear.
Apart from Dushyant Chautala who addressed a series of election meetings in favour of Kanda, his father and JJP chief Ajay Singh Chautala and Power Minister and Ajay's uncle Ranjit Singh Chautala also addressed the election meetings to seek votes for BJP-JJP joint candidate. Haryana BJP chief OP Dhankar, several Cabinet Ministers and MLAs also campaigned for the party candidate on Wednesday.
Sirsa MLA and founder of Haryana Lokhit Party (HLP), Gopal Kanda, who is brother of Govind Kanda have also addressed a large number of meetings in the past one week seeking votes for the BJP-JJP joint nominee.
A BJP’s spokesman said that despite all the propaganda of the opposition, the BJP has been successful in holding public meetings in all the 78 villages of the Ellenabad assembly constituency. Except in one or two villages, there was no opposition to the BJP in any other place. However, there were many villages where people themselves organized programs of BJP-JJP alliance candidate, the spokesman said.
Abhay gets support of Rakesh Tikait and Tanwar
Senior Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait on Wednesday hinted the farmers to support INLD’s Abhay Chautala saying that “Somebody has relied on the Samyukt Morcha…return the favour with something extra, only then will the relevance of the khap panchayats, Gurudwaras and Samyukt Morcha be intact.”
Without naming Chautala, Tikait while addressing a gathering in Ellenabad constituency said, “Someone kept his bag with us. Today, he is seeking return of it. Return it to him now with additions.” The BKU leader then asked, “Did you understand what I said? Will you do it for sure?” To which the crowd replied in affirmative.
Tikait also announced that the farmers will teach a lesson to the ruling BJP in the bypoll. He has held roadshows and public meetings in the constituency asking people to not vote for the BJP-BJP candidate.
Meanwhile, former Haryana Congress president Ashok Tanwar extended support to Abhay and appealed to voters in his favor. Tanwar, who is head of Apna Bharat Morcha addressed a joint press conference with Abhay to announce his support.
Abhay exuded confidence of his victory and said people of Ellenabad know that he has stood by them all these years.
Former CM and INLD chief OP Chautala has held an extensive campaign for his son Abhay in the last fortnight to ensure the party's victory.
