Bhiwani (Haryana): As Haryana prepares to vote on October 5, Bhiwani constituency has become a key battleground, with the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)) fielding Om Prakash for the first time in alliance with the Congress.
The Wire interviewed Om Prakash in Bhiwani and covered a rally led by Congress leader Raj Babbar, who came out in support of the Communist candidate.
Watch The Wire’s ground report:
Om Prakash, the CPI(M)’s district secretary for Bhiwani and a state committee member, is contesting this election with the Congress’ support — marking a historic return for the Left in the Haryana assembly polls after 37 years. In the 1987 elections, the party had won a seat in Tohana in alliance with the Lok Dal, and now, decades later, Prakash is carrying the party’s hopes for a victory.
Before entering politics full-time, Prakash was in the banking sector, serving as the chief manager of UCO Bank in Chandigarh. He took voluntary retirement in 2014, driven by his passion for social justice and his desire to fight for the rights of farmers, workers, and ordinary citizens. As a leader of the Jan Sangharsh Samiti, Prakash has led several successful campaigns, including movements addressing civic amenities and law and order in Bhiwani.
He also took part in the farmers’ protests against the controversial three farm laws in 2020-21, earning him widespread respect among the rural community.
At various public meetings, Om Prakash has stressed the importance of familiarising voters with the CPI(M)’s election symbol, the hammer, sickle, and star.
Addressing voters in Bhiwani’s Huda Park, he explained that despite being in an alliance, the Congress party’s symbol won’t appear on the ballot for this seat, as it has been ceded to the CPI(M). His primary task is ensuring that voters understand how to identify his symbol.
Om Prakash faces Bharataiya Janata Party’s (BJP’s) three-time MLA Ghanshyam Saraf, with voters from various caste groups playing a crucial role in the outcome. According to local estimates, the constituency has around 2.35 lakh voters, and Prakash’s support across diverse communities may give him an edge.
However, the BJP’s continued dominance in Bhiwani is a significant hurdle, and the margin by which the party led in the recent Lok Sabha elections poses a formidable challenge. Bhiwani, part of the Bhiwani-Mahendragarh Lok Sabha constituency was won by the BJP by a margin of more than 5.5 lakh votes, but in 2024, the margin of victory dropped to approximately 40,000.
While the CPI(M) workers are optimistic about the anti-incumbency sentiment against the BJP, Om Prakash is focusing on local issues — law and order, civic amenities, and corruption — that the sitting MLA has long neglected. Through his grassroots efforts and leadership in local movements, Om Prakash has built a strong base of support among labourers, farmers, and the working class.
For a closer look at these events, watch our exclusive interview with Om Prakash:
