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February 14, 1998

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Campaign Trail/Bhiwani, Haryana

In their fathers's name

The Bhiwani Lok Sabha contest is not just another clash of rival candidates. It is a battle for supremacy by proxy, where the sons of Chief Minister Bansi Lal and former chief minister Om Parkash Chautala slug it out on behalf of their fathers.

Surinder Singh, the nominee for Bansi Lal's Haryana Vikas Party, faces Ajay Chautala, contesting on a Haryana Lok Dal-Rashtriya ticket.

The contest becomes all the more intriguing with presence of Bansi Lal's estranged son, Ranbir Singh Mahindra. Bansi Lal's older son, Mahindra left his father squirming in discomfort by entering the fray as a Congress nominee.

Surinder Singh, aiming to save his seat, describes Ajay Chautala as an ''outsider'' and lists his father's contributions to developing the backward areas of Bhiwani, the family's hometown.

Mahindra, in electoral politics for the first time, spits fire against his younger brother, insisting that Surinder is also an outsider since he lives in Delhi most of the time. However, despite Congress backing, his chances look dim. He was nominated only in the last week of January.

With the battle at a high pitch, the contenders are mobilising all their resources. Though three election observers are camping at the local rest house to oversee the strict implementation of the election code, hundreds of jeeps fitted with loudspeakers whizz around the constituency throughout the day.

The chief minister has been canvassing for his younger son continuously for several days. The main roads of Bhiwani have been widened overnight and given a fresh coat of asphalt by the state public works department.

Official circles maintain that the ongoing repair of roads is a routine matter and that funds were allocated long ago. Election observers also tend to dismiss queries on the same, saying, ''If you have a specific instance of an election code violation, tell us.''

Opposition candidates openly charge the HVP of misusing the state machinery in the constituency. Numerous HVP flags flutter atop several big buildings. Banners and posters on walls were removed following the intervention of the observers.

An election observer, Sarvesh Kaushal, was replaced following complaints by the returning officer. Kaushal is the son-in-law of former chief secretary B S Ojha, who is considered a close associate of former chief minister Bhajan Lal. The latter has taken on the role of a mentor for Mahindra.

Irked at the replacement, Mahindra has dashed off a letter to the President of India, accusing the Election Commission of being biased against him.

Ajay Chautala is banking on the anti-incumbency feeling against Chief Minister Bansi Lal, whose prohibition policy is opposed by many. The chief minister is also being targetted for failing failing to fulfil his election promises of providing employment to every young man and developing the Bhiwani region.

An advantage for Surinder Singh is the support from his party's seven MLAs in the region. His opponents have no such backing. Ajay Singh stands to benefit if his party's ally, the Bahujan Samaj Party, succeeds in transferring a section of the Dalit votes in his favour.

UNI

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