Congress plays very safe in first Haryana list, all its sitting MLAs are in

While the Congress won 31 seats in 2019, Kiran Choudhry and Bhavya Bishnoi are now in the BJP while one of its MLAs, Varun Chaudhry, was elected to Parliament in the recent Lok Sabha polls.

This is a complete opposite to the BJP strategy, as part of which the ruling party has changed even its Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini’s seat, in a bid to beat anti-incumbency.

The BJP has seen rebellion from several quarters, including resignations, since its first list of 67 names. The Congress might have avoided that, for now, by re-fielding the sitting MLAs.

A round of talks is planned by the Congress on Saturday to discuss the remaining 69 names. The Congress high command is keen on a tie-up with INDIA allies, including the Aam Aadmi Party and Samajwadi Party, which had delayed the release of the first list. The Congress’s state unit, led by Hooda, is pushing back against a tie-up as it is confident of a win.

Among the big names, while Hooda will be contesting from his stronghold Garhi-Sampla Kiloi, Congress sitting MLA Mewa Singh will take on CM Saini from Ladwa. Newcomer Vinesh Phogat has been fielded from Julana. While the BJP is yet to declare its nominee in Julana, the JJP has fielded its sitting MLA Amarjeet Dhanda.

PCC chief Bhan, who lost from Hodal (SC) constituency in 2019, shall be contesting from the same seat again.

Sitting MLA Amit Sihag will defend his Dabwali seat against JJP leader Digvijay Chautala.

Some staunch loyalists of Hooda’s rival Kumari Selja who managed to get a nod in the first list include Shamsher Singh Gogi (Assandh), Renu Bala (Sadhaura SC-reserved seat), and Pradeep Chaudhary (Kalka).

The ex-JJP MLA who figures in the Congress first list is Ram Karan, re-fielded from Shahbad, while Dharampal Gonder will fight from Nilokheri, which he won as an Independent in 2019. Gonder had withdrawn support to the BJP in May this year and supported the Congress ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.

Three aides of Hooda who are facing Enforcement Directorate (ED) probes but managed to get tickets include Rao Dan Singh (Mahendragarh seat), Dharam Singh Chhoker (Samalkha) and Surender Panwar (Sonipat). While Chhoker’s son was arrested by the ED recently, Panwar is behind bars, and there was a raid on Dan Singh’s premises in July this year.

Dan Singh had also contested the Lok Sabha polls, from Bhiwani-Mahendragarh seat, but lost to the BJP’s Dharambir Singh.

MLA Mamman Khan, who was arrested by investigating agencies for allegedly instigating the Nuh riots last year in which at least six persons lost their lives, has been retained by the party as its Ferozepur Jhirka nominee.

“I give my best wishes to all the candidates announced by Congress party today. All of us are committed to work together and make Haryana a progressive, inclusive and prosperous state,” Kumari Selja posted on X after the list was released.