Advantage BJP in Faridabad

Post-delimitation Faridabad constituency is witnessing four-cornered fight which gives two national parties sleepless nights.

Unlike previous elections this time BSP candidate and former cricketer Chetan Sharma is testing the water with Mayawati's "dalit-brahmin" formula whereas Chander Bhatia from HJC trying to corner Punjabi votes.

Avtar Singh Bhadana of Congress and sitting MP is keeping his fingers crossed. He's facing the anti-incumbency and two assembly segments which generally regarded as his stronghold migrated to Gurgaon constituency post delimitation and made his path difficult. Bhupinder Hooda's appeal may come to his rescue.

The Expressindia reported that "The BJP finds itself on a strong footing in Faridabad, whereas the Congress has been facing trouble in the constituency right from the day Bhadana was renominated the party candidate. Minister for Urban Local Bodies A C Chaudhry and MLAs Karan Singh Dalal and Mahendra Pratap Singh had rebelled against the party decision. Calling it a neglect of the Punjabi community, Chaudhry had submitted his resignation to the Congress President Sonia Gandhi. Chaudhry's resignation was yet to be accepted by the party, but he kept himself away from any campaign either in Faridabad or elsewhere. Opposing the candidature of Avtar Singh Bhadana, Karan Singh Dalal and Mahendra Pratap Singh too did not campaign. Speculation was rife at one time that Chaudhry was about to join BSP, but nothing of the sort happened. BSP even issued a statement saying that it was considering projecting Chaudhry as the future chief minister of the state. Congress did try to pacify these rebel leaders, especially Chaudhry, who had left the decision of the future plan of action of the Punjabi community to the 11-member Haryana Punjabi Welfare Sabha."

Ramchandra Bainda, the three-time MP from Faridabad is pinning his hopes on the en masse support of more than 2.5 strong Jat votes with other supporters of BJP. Urban middle-class votes may go in favour of him. Analysts say that BSP may harm him if Brahmin voters opt for Chetan Sharma.

In all likelihood migrant votes will proved to be golden if they aligned with slumdwellers.

• Congress infighting could affect its poll prospects in Haryana
• Caste and community call the shots in Faridabad
• Chetan Sharma queers pitch for Congress, BJP in Faridabad