BJP faces tough challenge in Nalagarh By-Elections due to rebel candidate
Banking on Prime Minister Modi’s charisma and his long-standing association with the party, the BJP candidate is fighting a grim electoral battle in the triangular contest for the Nalagarh assembly segment by-elections in Solan district.
The situation has been complicated by the entry of rebel candidate Harpreet Singh Saini, the state co-media in-charge of Yuva Morcha, who is contesting against BJP’s official candidate, sitting MLA KL Thakur. This internal challenge has put Thakur in a precarious position in this assembly segment bordering Punjab and Haryana.
Congress poll managers are intensifying the competition by highlighting the BJP’s alleged neglect of constituency development under the previous government. Key issues such as poor rural roads, inadequate health and educational infrastructure, lack of drinking and irrigation water schemes, and slow industrial growth are central to the Congress’s campaign against the BJP.
While the Congress is working hard to turn the election into a tight contest, the BJP is also making significant efforts to secure victory through a door-to-door campaign. KL Thakur, who previously defeated Hardeep Bawa in the 2022 assembly polls, is now facing a formidable challenge from both the Congress and the internal dissent within his party.
The BJP is emphasizing reported poor governance by the Congress government, while the Congress is focusing on its achievements despite facing natural disasters and a non-cooperative approach from the Modi government. Both parties have intensified their door-to-door campaigning due to the high stakes involved.
Harpreet Singh Saini’s candidacy, bolstered by his relation to former BJP minister HN Saini, underscores the internal conflicts within the BJP. His entry has sparked significant activity among party leaders to sway the electorate.
Saini’s rebellion highlights the rifts within the BJP just ahead of the by-election. His campaign points to issues such as poor road conditions, inadequate health and educational facilities, and other overlooked concerns, which he argues have not been addressed by the sitting MLA.
The Congress candidate, Hardeep Baba, claims that people are frustrated with the anti-people policies of the Modi government and the BJP MLA’s failures in
