Bishnois enjoy Oppn support on home turf.

THE ELECTORAL battle has taken an interesting turn in the Bishnois' home turf in Hissar district.

Bhajan Lal's family -- his wife Jasma Devi and son Kuldeep Bishnoi -- is said to be enjoying strong support of the opposition, Indian National Lok Dal ( INLD).

While Jasma, a candidate of the Haryana Janhit Congress ( HJC), is in the fray from Nalwa, HJC president Bishnoi is contesting from Adampur.

Bishnoi is pitted against Congressman Jai Prakash.

The constituency, considered ' safe' for anyone from the Bhajan Lal family, is likely to be a cakewalk for him.

But Bishnoi is not taking any chances. " He sets out in the morning to meet the public. He reaches out to the people in their time of distress," said Ravinder Dahiya, his supporter. Kuldeep's family members are also campaigning for him.

According to sources, some factions of the Congress and the INLD are supporting Bishnoi in Adampur.

A supporter of Jai Prakash said some people in the Congress wanted him to lose.

The INLD has nominated a ' dummy' candidate to help the HJC. Bishnoi, however, said the opponents had been making excuses as their defeat was imminent.

Nalwa is also witnessing an interesting electoral battle.

Jasma is pitted against former finance minister Sampat Singh -- he had dumped the INLD for the Congress -- here.

Hence, the INLD cadre is concentrating more on Sampat's defeat than the victory of their own candidate, Ranbir Singh Gangwa.

Gaurav, Sampat's son, said both the INLD and the HJC had " informally" tied up against his father.

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