CHANDIGARH: The chief electoral officer (CEO) of Haryana directed the state police chief to provide security to contestants on Tuesday amid the backlash that candidates of BJP and JJP have been facing in rural areas over issues ranging from MSP for farm produce to unemployment.
In a communication, CEO Anurag Aggarwal asked DGP Shatrujeet Singh Kapoor to provide one PSO each to the candidates representing the regional parties and two PSOs each to the candidates belonging to the national parties.The DGP was also told to maintain law and order so that candidates have free movement for their campaigning.
In the last one week, besides protests by farmers’ groups, who are not allowing BJP and JJP candidates to enter villages and are also disrupting their campaigning, there have been incidents of nominees being attacked in villages, sometimes triggering clashes between supporters on either side.
JJP candidate from Hisar Lok Sabha seat Naina Chautala and BJP nominee from Sirsa Lok Sabha seat Ashok Tanwar were recently attacked by the protesters.
Besides, former CM Manohar Lal Khattar, who is contesting from Karnal, and BJP’s Hisar nominee, Ranjit Singh Chautala, have been facing aggressive questioning and sloganeering by villagers at multiple venues in the hinterland.
Some BJP nominees have even cancelled rallies in their respective constituencies in the face of public hostility.
In contrast to former allies BJP and JJP, Congress candidates have been campaigning freely.
The farm unions have also blocked BJP’s election campaign in Punjab, which will vote on June 1. Haryana will go to polls on May 25.
In a communication, CEO Anurag Aggarwal asked DGP Shatrujeet Singh Kapoor to provide one PSO each to the candidates representing the regional parties and two PSOs each to the candidates belonging to the national parties.The DGP was also told to maintain law and order so that candidates have free movement for their campaigning.
In the last one week, besides protests by farmers’ groups, who are not allowing BJP and JJP candidates to enter villages and are also disrupting their campaigning, there have been incidents of nominees being attacked in villages, sometimes triggering clashes between supporters on either side.
JJP candidate from Hisar Lok Sabha seat Naina Chautala and BJP nominee from Sirsa Lok Sabha seat Ashok Tanwar were recently attacked by the protesters.
Besides, former CM Manohar Lal Khattar, who is contesting from Karnal, and BJP’s Hisar nominee, Ranjit Singh Chautala, have been facing aggressive questioning and sloganeering by villagers at multiple venues in the hinterland.
Some BJP nominees have even cancelled rallies in their respective constituencies in the face of public hostility.
In contrast to former allies BJP and JJP, Congress candidates have been campaigning freely.
The farm unions have also blocked BJP’s election campaign in Punjab, which will vote on June 1. Haryana will go to polls on May 25.