lok-sabha-elections

Updated: Apr 29, 2019 15:33 IST

Though women were given a cold shoulder during allotment of tickets for Lok Sabha elections in Haryana, they are leading from the front on the campaign trail in the state. Political parties too are realising their importance, especially for reaching out to women voters in the state. Most women campaigners are family members of candidates and are leaving no stone unturned to ensure that their win.

Chitra leads father, Nirmal Singh’s chariot in Kurukshetra

Chitra Sarwara is campaigning for her father, Congress’ Kurukshetra candidate Nirmal Sharma. ( HT Photo )

Chitra Sarwara, daughter of Congress’ candidate Nirmal Singh, has been camping in Kurukshetra ever since her father filed his papers from the constituency. Accompanied by former MP Naveen Jindal, Chitra, who is the general secretary and social-media in-charge of Mahila Congress, covers a dozen villages every day, reaching out to women voters and asking them to vote for her father. Considered to be the political heir of Nirmal Singh, she begins her campaign at around 7 in the morning and goes on till 9pm.

Arjun Chautala’s mother, aunt reach Kurukshetra

Though Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) did not field any women this time, it has realised the importance of women campaigners. After declaring Arjun Chautala, grandson of INLD supremo OP Chautala, as the candidate for Kurukshetra, the party brought in his mother, Kanta, and aunts Sunaina and Sunita to campaign for him.

Kanta Chautala (in blue suit) , INLD candidate Arjun Chautala’s mother, campaigning for her son. ( HT Photo )

The three women have covered a number of villagers, seeking votes for Arjun and lashing out at his opponents and rivals. “Though I am not in politics, I have come to seek votes for my son,” she says. In a veiled attack on her estranged nephews Dushyant and Digvijay, she says, “Some people will come to mislead you in the name of late Devi Lal but you should know that INLD is the only party which is following his footprints.”

Wife, mayor daughter campaign for BJP’s Sanjay Bhatia

Anju Bhatia, wife of BJP’s Karnal candidate Sanjay Bhatia, along with daughter and Panipat mayor Avneet Kaur, has been campaigning extensively in the urban areas of Panipat and Karnal. Accompanied by the party’s Gurgaon women’s cell secretary Suman Chug, they have been holding door-to-door campaigns.

In the past one week, Anju has covered Karnal, Panipat, Nilokheri, Taraori and Ghraunda. Ask her if the extreme heat conditions make it difficult for candidates and their supporters to carry out the campaign, she says, “We forget the burning sun from we see the love we get from the people.”

Kuldeep Sharma’s wife helps take campaign forward

Similarly, Neelam Sharma, wife of Congress’ Karnal candidate Kuldeep Sharma, has also been going door-to-door, seeking votes to ensure her husband’s win. Though Sharma’s campaign was delayed due to delay in allotment of ticket, Neelam has extended a helping hand to him for covering the constituency. Accompanied by their son, Chanakya, Neelam has covered about 20 villages in Ghraunda and Karnal assembly segments in the past two days. People associated with Sharma’s campaign say that Neelam’s participation in the campaigning is likely to help a great deal as he is currently lagging behind due to delay in allotment of ticket.

In Hisar, 3 MLAs battle it out for their sons

In Hisar, Congress’s Hansi MLA Renuka Bishnoi, Uchana MLA Prem Lata and Dabwali MLA Naina Chautala are campaigning for their children who are pitted against each other. While Renuka’s son Bhavya is fighting his first election, Prem Lata’s son Brijendra Singh quit his bureaucratic career after the BJP gave him a ticket. Naina’s son Dushyant, who is the sitting MP from Hisar, is seeking re-election from the seat.

Kiran Chaudhary comes out to support daughter

Congress Legislature Party leader Kiran Chaudhary, whose daughter Shruti is fighting from the Bhiwani-Mahendergarh seat, has been canvassing in the scorching heat for the past several days. She minces no words while taking on the opponents. Speaking to Hindustan Times, Kiran says, “Sitting MP Dharambir has failed to bring any development while my daughter solved the water problem of Ahirwal region. She was the one who introduced this constituency under NCR region.”

Asha Hooda, wife of former Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and mother of Rohtak MP Deepender Hooda, is dividing her time between Sonepat and Rohtak and canvassing for the father-son duo.