The Uchana Kalan constituency in Haryana’s Jat heartland has once again turned into a political battleground, witnessing a fierce contest between two prominent Jat families. This time, the stakes are higher than ever, as former Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala and former MP Brijendra Singh lock horns in a triangular contest, with the BJP fielding Brahmin candidate Devender Attri to sway non-Jat votes.
For decades, Uchana Kalan has been a battleground for a fierce rivalry between the next generation of two of Haryana’s most prominent political families—Sir Chhotu Ram’s grandson, Chaudhary Birender Singh, and Devi Lal’s son, Om Prakash Chautala. Both families have long been deeply rooted in the state’s political fabric, shaping its landscape with their powerful legacies and strongholds.
The feud, which began with Dushyant’s grandfather, former Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala, and Brijendra’s father, former Union Minister Birender Singh, now continues with the next generation. Dushyant Chautala is fighting to maintain his hold on the seat, while Brijendra Singh seeks to uphold his father’s legacy, this time as a Congress candidate.
In the last election, Dushyant avenged his 2014 defeat by defeating Brijendra’s mother, Premlata Singh, by a massive margin of 47,452 votes. However, this election has taken an intriguing twist, with Brijendra shifting to Congress, while Dushyant faces criticism for aligning with the BJP after defeating Premlata.
Both candidates have launched aggressive campaigns. Brijendra Singh has roped in former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda to campaign in Uchana, highlighting the Congress’ support. On the other hand, Dushyant, a key figure in the Jannayak Janta Party (JJP), has had little time to focus solely on Uchana due to his role in supporting other candidates across the state. His mother, Naina Chautala, a former MLA, has been leading his campaign in his absence.
Dushyant’s campaign has been focused on his achievements as Deputy Chief Minister, including spending ₹580 crore on road infrastructure, improving canal irrigation in 17 villages, setting up digital libraries in 20 villages, and planning a medical college in Jind. Meanwhile, Brijendra Singh, with his father Birender and mother Premlata by his side, has been actively campaigning, but he faces criticism for not delivering any major projects to Uchana during his tenure as MP for Hisar, which includes Uchana in its jurisdiction.