Farmers Movement Archive

Independent candidate Kapoor Singh Narwal withdraws nomination for Haryana’s Baroda byelection

Giving in to Haryana Congress leader and former chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda’s appeal to put up a united show, rebel leader Kapoor Singh Narwal withdrew his nomination as an independent candidate on Monday, the last day to do so, for the November 3 Baroda by election.Hooda had earlier been pushing for BJP rebel Narwal’s nomination as Congress candidate but state unit president Kumari Selja prevailed by calling him an ‘outsider’ and Indu Raj Narwal was nominated instead. Kapoor Singh Narwal said he withdrew his nomination after khap representatives and Hooda urged him to do so in the interest of “brotherhood and for the farmers’ concern”. “This election is being fought to teach the BJP a lesson after it enacted the three farm laws. Both Bhupinder Singh Hooda and Deepender Singh Hooda assured me of respect. Now, I am dedicating myself to senior Hooda sahab,” he said.Narwal is game changer: HoodaWhile addressing a gathering at Kapoor Narwal’s house in Sonepat’s Gohana, Bhupinder Singh Hooda said Narwal is the game changer of the election and he has a lot of respect for him.“In the last six years, BJP damaged everything in the state. I assure you that no one can snatch the steering wheel (terming himself as tallest leader of Haryana Congress) from me. If you will ensure my candidate’s win from Baroda, the government’s countdown will begin. You know me, the power steering will remain in my hand,” he added.Independent MLA from Meham, Balraj Kundu also extended support to Hooda. Kundu said he can support anyone to ensure BJP candidate’s win in this bypoll for the sake of farmer’s interest.“The BJP’s defeat will be a great tribute to our agitating farmers’, who are sitting on a stir against farm laws,” he added.Two days ago, residents of Congress nominee Indu Raj’s native village Rindhana visited Kathura, the native village of Kapoor Singh Narwal, to request him to take back his nomination. However, his supporters turned down the request. Finally, the khaps and Hooda convinced him. Two others withdraw nominationTwo other independent candidates have also withdrawn their nomination for the bypoll. Loktantra Suraksha Party chief Raj Kumar Saini, who could potentially dent the chances of BJP candidate Yogeshwar Dutt by eating into the backward class votes, asked his party nominee Rajinder Singh to withdraw the papers. However, Saini will contest the bypoll. He said the saffron party had managed to convince his party candidate in the Jind bypoll but this time he is leaving no stone unturned by pitching himself in the fray.“Both the BJP and the Congress have been creating a gap between the rich and poor. The deprived section is still waiting for their rights. All sections of the society will show their resentment against these parties by electing me as their MLA,” Saini said.BJP’s Yogeshwar Dutt, an Olympian wrestler, Indu Raj Narwal, a former Sonepat zila parishad member, of the Congress, , Joginder Singh Malik of the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) and LSP chief Raj Kumar Saini are in the fray for the Baroda byelections.The Baroda assembly seat had fallen vacant in April after the death of Congress MLA Sri Krishan Hooda.

Hindustan Times

19-10-2020

Chandigarh