The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has taken an early step in the race for the Haryana Assembly elections by releasing its first list of candidates. The party has declared the names for 67 out of the 90 constituencies, signaling its intention to secure a first-mover advantage in the state.
Notably, Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini has been fielded from the Ladwa constituency. Saini, who was an MP from Kurukshetra before taking over as the Haryana Chief Minister in March this year, currently represents the Karnal Assembly seat, which he won in a by-election in June. His selection from Ladwa reflects the BJP’s strategic positioning in key constituencies ahead of the crucial elections.
Veteran BJP leader and former minister Anil Vij will contest from the Ambala Cantonment constituency, a seat he has held for three consecutive terms since 2009. Anil Vij’s reputation as a seasoned politician and his stronghold in Ambala Cantonment make him a critical player in the BJP’s election campaign.
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Among the prominent names in the list is Shakti Rani Sharma, wife of Ambala Mayor and former Union Minister Vinod Sharma. She will be contesting from the Kalka assembly constituency. Shakti Rani Sharma’s inclusion in the BJP’s list comes as she is recognized as a formidable candidate despite being linked to a controversial chapter in Haryana’s history—her son, Manu Sharma, was convicted in the Jessica Lal murder case.
In another notable move, Shruti Choudhry, who left the Congress along with her mother, Rajya Sabha MP Kiran Choudhry, to join the BJP in June, has been given a ticket from Tosham. This shift highlights BJP’s efforts to attract strong candidates from opposition parties, aiming to consolidate its position in the state.
The BJP has also fielded three former legislators from the Jannayak Janata Party (JJP), its former ally in Haryana. These candidates include Devender Singh Babli from Tohana, Ram Kumar Gautam from Safidon, and Anoop Dhanak from Uklana. Their inclusion marks the BJP’s strategy to weaken the influence of the JJP in the upcoming elections.
Adding a sporting flair to its candidate list, the BJP has nominated Deepak Hooda, the captain of the Indian Kabaddi team, from Meham. Union Minister Om Prakash Dhankar has been selected to contest from Badli, underscoring the party’s preference for experienced leaders in crucial constituencies.
The list features eight women candidates, reflecting the party’s commitment to gender diversity in politics. However, the BJP has made some tough decisions by dropping a few sitting MLAs, including some ministers. Notably absent from the list is Savitri Jindal, mother of MP Naveen Jindal, who was widely anticipated to secure a ticket from Hisar. Instead, the party has chosen to stick with the incumbent, Kamal Gupta, who currently serves as a state minister.
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The Haryana Assembly elections are poised to be a pivotal contest for the BJP, especially after its underwhelming performance in the recent Lok Sabha elections, where it secured only five out of ten seats in the state. This is a significant drop from its 2019 performance when it swept all ten seats. The upcoming elections will be a litmus test for the BJP’s popularity in Haryana, particularly as it faces a resurgent Congress, which is gaining ground and could strengthen its position if alliance talks with Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) under the INDIA alliance bear fruit.
The Congress, which has ruled Haryana multiple times in the past, is banking on anti-incumbency sentiments and strategic alliances to dislodge the BJP, which has been in power in the state since 2014.
As both major parties gear up for the electoral battle, the BJP’s early candidate announcement could set the tone for a high-stakes contest in Haryana’s political landscape.
