BJP, Congress form teams to win back rebels

CHANDIGARH: Well aware that even a small margin of votes could tilt the results to their disadvantage, both BJP and Congress have formed teams to win back the rebels contesting as independent candidates in Haryana.

"Those close to the rebels have been asked to pursue them. We are hopeful that a majority of them will withdraw their nominations. Still, we are on a strong footing," said former CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda.

CM Nayab Singh Saini of BJP is also hopeful of convincing the dissidents to withdraw. "Our teams are already out in the field. Most of them have agreed, while the rest will also join the official candidates," he said.

The last date for withdrawal of nominations is Sept 16.According to sources, Congress is facing rebellion in around 35 seats. Among those who have declared to contest as independents include former chief parliamentary secretary Ram Kishan Fauji, Sharda Rathore, Lalit Nagar and Chitra Sarwara.

In BJP, nearly 50 rebels have filed their papers against the party's official candidates. Prominent faces include Gautam Sardana and Savitri Jindal in Hisar, Renu Gupta in Karnal, Rajiv Jain in Sonipat and Bharti Saini in Narnaul.

The party had been facing rebellion since it released its first list of 67 candidates in the first week of Sept.


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