CHANDIGARH: As Haryana goes to polls on October 15, 17 constituencies in the state have candidates with the same names.
Candidates of almost all major parties like the BJP, INLD, Congress, Haryana Janhit Congress (HJC), Haryana Lokhit Party and the BSP will have to compete with namesakes. Some contestants claim the namesake trick is a ploy to steal votes.
HJC chief Kuldeep Bishnoi, who is contesting from his family’s traditional seat Adampur, is facing another Kuldeep, an independent candidate. While in Thanesar constituency, INLD state president Ashok Arora, is pitched against another Ashok, an independent candidate.
BJP candidate Kavita Jain, who is the sitting MLA from Sonepat, is facing two independent candidates, who share her first name. “Fielding of namesakes is a cheap ploy used by Opposition parties to cut into my votes,” she alleged.
Two Suresh’s, one of the BSP and another an independent, will compete for the Garhi Sampla Kiloi seat, where Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda is also contesting.
In Sohana, BJP candidate Tejpals will be trying his luck against another Tejapl, an independent.
The scenario is worse for Raj Singh Mor, INLD candidate from Narnaud, as he will have to fight it out with three independent candidates named Raj Singh.
The 17 constituencies from where these namesakes will be clashing are Dadri, Jind, Sonipat, Thansear, Adanpur, Indri, Gharaunda, Israna (R), Rania, Narnaund, Barwala, Garhi Sampal Kiloi, Bahadurgarh, Gurgaon, Sohana and Badhkal.
There are two Dharambir Gaba’s in the fray from Gurgaon constituency. Similarly, BJP’s Krishan Lal will lock horns with CPI’s Krishan from the Israna (R) seat.
In Gharaunda, three Karan Singh’s are in the fray, one from the HLP and other two Independents.