Considered as Jatland, the Sonepat Parliamentary Constituency is also known for big political changes as well as for the defeat of stalwart leaders. As the BJP has already fielded a Brahmin candidate Mohan Lal Badoli, sitting MLA from Rai Vidhan Sabha Constituency, the electorate is now waiting for the candidates of the opposition parties — Congress, Jannayak Janata Party (JJP) and Indian National Lok Dal (INLD). The central party leadership of the Congress, which held a meeting in Delhi recently, has discussed some names for Haryana, including Sonepat. Since Senior Congress leader Birender Singh and leader of Opposition in the Haryana Assembly Bhupinder Singh Hooda have considerable following in the Sonepat parliamentary constituency, Brijendra Singh, who recently joined the Congress, could be the best bet for the seat. Besides this, the Congress is also considering a Punjabi and Brahmin face as options. The party leadership discussed the weaknesses and strengths of all the candidates in the meeting. An intense tussle has been going on in the party over the Sonepat ticket.The candidate is likely to be announced on Friday or Saturday, party leaders said.  As per the political history of this constituency, mostly Jat candidates have registered victory. But in 2019, BJPs non-Jat (Brahmin face) candidate Ramesh Chander Kaushik defeated senior Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda by 1.55 lakh votes. In 2014, Kaushik defeated Congress candidate Jagbeer Singh Malik by around 77,000 votes. Sonepat Lok Sabha seat, which came into existence in 1977 after it separated from the Rohtak Lok Sabha seat, is also known for the defeat of stalwart leaders. Janata Party Candidate Mukhtiar Singh Malik was the first Member of Parliament from here in 1977. It had also seen former Deputy Prime Minister late Devi Lal making his Lok Sabha debut in 1980. Devi Lal had to taste defeat from the seat in the next elections in 1984. This Constituency is also known for different political influences in past elections. Four-time Member of Parliament from Rohtak Lok Constituency and Former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda had also faced defeat from Sonepat Constituency. Hooda was defeated by BJPs non-Jat (Brahmin face) candidate Ramesh Chander Kaushik with a margin of 1.55 lakh votes. Sonepat has always been a prestigious seat for all parties. BJP had won the election four times while Congress for the three times from here. Congress candidates represented the seat in 2009, 1991 and 1984 while the BJP candidates won from here in 2019, 2014, 2004 and 1999. INLD candidate Kishan Singh Sangwan had won the Lok Sabha election from here in 1998. Later he joined BJP and won the election in 1999 and 2004. It is considered a strong Jat seat but many non-Jat candidates had also won from this constituency. BJP candidate Ramesh Kaushik — a Brahmin — won in 2014 and 2019. The BJP has again fielded a Brahmin candidate, Mohan Lal Badoli, from the seat. Sonepat Lok Sabha comprises nine Assembly constituencies — six in Sonepat district (Kharkhoda, Gannaur, Rai, Sonepat, Gohana and Baroda) and three in Jind district (Safidon, Jind and Julana). Presently, Congress MLAs are in the constituencies of Sonepat, Kharkhoda, Baroda, Gohana and Safidon, BJP MLAs in Rai, Gannaur and Jind, and JJP MLA in Julana. Political observers feel that the BJP has already taken an early advantage by announcing its candidate and Congress should not delay in making its announcement which is set to be a direct contest between the two parties. Observers feel that JJP and INLD have good presence in some segments and have the potential to influence the outcome of the election. The elections would be more interesting this time as the BJP would enter the fray to create history if it wins the seat for the third time consecutively. The Congress would contest to regain the seat after 10 years. The Jat community has more than 5 lakh voters in Sonepat and there are more than 1.5 lakh Brahmins as well. The Khaps in the area have in the past influenced the voting pattern in Sonepat. The main Khaps including Malik, Dahiyas, Rathis among others have always played a key role in deciding the fate of candidates in the fray, they added.

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