The BJP has never won Haryana's Kharkhauda Assembly seat since it was carved in 2009 following delimitation. The Scheduled Castes (SC)-reserved constituency in Sonipat district adjoining Delhi has always been bagged by the Congress so far. This time, the incumbent BJP has fielded former Haryana Scheduled Castes Finance and Development Corporation chairperson Pawan Kharkhoda from the seat, seeking a change in its fortunes here. Kharkhoda first unsuccessfully contested the seat as an Independent in the 2014 polls. He again lost the seat in 2019 on the Jannayak Janata Party (JJP) ticket. In an interview with The Indian Express, Kharkhoda speaks about his prospects in the October 5 polls, the Agniveer scheme and wrestlers’ protest, among other issues. Excerpts: The BJP has always lost the Kharkhauda seat. What makes you hopeful of a turnaround this time? There is a wave of change in Kharkhauda. The run-up to the elections has been good and people of “chhattis biradris (36 communities)” from all 58 villages and urban areas as well as intellectuals are supporting me. Moreover, Independents are also in my support. Also, there is anti-incumbency against Congress MLA (Jaiveer Singh). The people want to defeat him and have made the election a Kharkhoda versus Singh battle. It is also an insider versus outsider battle. People believe that their problems would be solved only if Singh is defeated. During the recent Lok Sabha polls, the Opposition had raised the issue of reservation and Constitution, which might have led to Dalits voting for the INDIA bloc. How are you approaching the SC voters now? For us (BJP), the Constitution is a “pavitra granth (holy scripture)” which means more than the (Bhagavad) Gita. The BJP will never allow it to be changed. On the contrary, the Congress harmed the Constitution and imposed the Emergency in 1975. They have changed it hundreds of times as they have an anti-Constitution mindset. The BJP-led state government has made promises for Agniveers. Is that helping the party to deal with the anger of youths who aspire to join the Army? The people know that the BJP is the only party that thinks about the country while the Opposition is only trying to reap political benefits in its name. They try to divide people in the name of caste and religion while the BJP takes everyone along. The wrestlers’ protest against ex-BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh has dominated discourse in Haryana since last year. Has it damaged the BJP's chances in the upcoming polls? Wrestlers and other athletes are making our country proud. They bring honour to the nation and the Tricolour. If something becomes an issue due to one person (Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh), it has no relevance. Many times, it becomes a fight of ideologies. The wrestlers’ protest was politicised by the Congress. The BJP never meted out injustice to them and has always stood in their support. Has anti-incumbency declined for the BJP after it replaced Manohar Lal Khattar with Nayab Singh Saini as the CM early this year? The BJP gives opportunity to every worker and it is the only party where a ground-level worker of any caste or religion can reach the top position. In contrast, the Congress will renominate an MLA till he is alive. All BJP CMs have done good work and the change was a routine exercise. Manohar Lal ji and Saini both have done good work. The BJP is working for the growth and progress of Haryana.
