Youth Congress Leader Divyanshu Budhiraja Surrenders, Gets Bail

After a brief legal hurdle, Congress candidate Divyanshu Budhiraja has regained momentum in his campaign for the Karnal Lok Sabha seat. The 31-year-old Youth Congress president, contesting against seasoned politician and former CM Manohar Lal Khattar of the BJP, received a major relief when a Panchkula court granted him bail in a 2018 property defacement case.

Budhiraja had been declared a proclaimed offender in December 2023 for failing to appear before the court repeatedly in connection with the case, where he was booked for putting up posters regarding unemployment in the state. A fresh FIR was registered against him in January 2024 under Section 174-A (failure to appear before court) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). 

Wasting no time, Budhiraja surrendered before the court on Friday and was granted bail after furnishing a bond of Rs 40,000 and a surety of the same amount. Terming the cases against him a "conspiracy" and a result of "political vendetta," Budhiraja had approached the Punjab and Haryana High Court seeking quashing of the charges. 

Within hours of securing his release, Budhiraja hit the ground running, reaching Assandh village in Karnal district. He inaugurated an election office and addressed party workers, urging them to uproot the BJP and elect Congress MPs. "It was a conspiracy against me, and the people of Karnal will teach the BJP candidate a lesson for it," he said, vowing to highlight the failures of the BJP government.

Accompanied by Assandh MLA Shamsher Singh Gogi and other party leaders, Budhiraja called upon the workers to intensify their outreach efforts and connect with voters across the constituency. His message was clear: the Congress is determined to dethrone the BJP and bring about a change in Karnal.

The legal tussle and Budhiraja's subsequent bail have added a layer to the high-stakes Lok Sabha battle in Karnal. Pitted against a strong opponent- Khattar, the young Congress candidate is leaving no stone unturned to rally support and present himself as a viable alternative.

As the election campaign intensifies, Budhiraja may be able to gain support by portraying himself as a victim of political manipulation, which could appeal to voters frustrated with the current BJP government. However, the former Chief Minister's experience and the party's strong electoral organisation present significant obstacles for Budhiraja. 

Regardless of the outcome, Budhiraja's resilience and determination to bounce back swiftly from legal hurdles have injected fresh energy into the Congress campaign in Karnal. With both sides leaving no stone unturned, the stage is set for a high-end political clash in this pivotal Lok Sabha constituency.