Lucknow, September 12: After hitting the headlines for his now on-now off relationship with advocate-turned-reality TV celebrity Fiza (earlier known as Anuradha Bali), former Haryana deputy chief minister Chander Mohan is eyeing a return to politics. He is reportedly trying to bag a Congress ticket for the Assembly polls scheduled to be held next month.
His former secretary Anil Pangotra said Chander has met K P Rana, the Congress observer for the polls, and expressed his desire to contest. “He has submitted his bio-data and is a strong candidate. He has won four consecutive elections from Kalka, even when the Congress was in dire straits, he said.
Asked how the whole Chand-Fiza episode would effect his chances of getting a ticket, Pangotra termed it “his personal matter, which has no link to his political career”.
It may be recalled that Chander had converted to Islam, rechristened himself as Chand Mohammed and married the then assistant advocate general of Haryana, Anuradha Bali, who too converted to Islam and acquired a new name, Fiza.
Their relationship went through a lot of crests and troughs, eventually ending in a bitter break-up.
Eventually, Chander, son of political heavyweight Bhajan Lal, returned to his family, went back to the Bishnoi sect and re-acquired his old name. Now, he is at the family home in Panchkula, where his first wife Seema Bishnoi lives, and is making an effort to return to the political arena.
As for the those who earlier supported him some of whom are themselves in fray for the ticket they take the line that they would support whoever the party high command backs.
Rawinder Rawal, former Panchkula MC president and a one-time strong supporter of Chander, said, “Though it has been more than five days since Chander Mohan returned to Panchkula, he has not contacted us for any support. For us, the decision of the high command will be final and we will support any candidate the party gives the ticket to, even if it is Chander Mohan.”
But Chander’s past seems to be catching up already. Fiza says she too may throw in her hat if Chander contests.
“I won’t rule out contesting the forthcoming Haryana Assembly polls. But at the moment, I am closely following the development and will take a decision only afterwards,” she told Newsline.
-Agencies