Haryana Assembly elections: Cong releases candidate list

The Congress on Wednesday released its list of candidates for the elections to the 90-member Haryana Assembly. The candidate selection bears the imprint of Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, say party insiders.

Finding himself sidelined, Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee chief Ashok Tanwar had reportedly threatened to resign.

Although Rahul Gandhi had announced that corrupt persons would not be given tickets, many tainted ministers and legislators managed to find a place on the list.

Hooda will contest from Garhi Sampla Kiloi seat, from where his son Deepender had won elections. Deepender was the only Congress candidate to win that seat.

To prevent rebellion, the Congress re-nominated a majority of sitting ministers and MLAs. Captain Ajay Singh Yadav, power, forests and environment minister, who had been a vocal critic of the CM, has also been given a ticket. Speaker Kuldeep Sharma will contest from Ganaur.

Six tainted legislators, including Narendra Singh and Vinod Bhayana, embroiled in the CD scam (they were caught on camera demanding money from a person for change of land use) have been given tickets. Bhayana is among those who have been facing charges under the anti-defection law. Four of the five MLAs who defected to Congress from the Haryana Janhit Congress have been rewarded with tickets.

Surprisingly, the party’s decision not to give tickets to kin of politicians has been selectively applied. While former chief minister Bansi Lal’s daughter-in-law Kiran Chaudhary will contest from Tosham, his son Ranbir Singh Mahendra and son-in-law Somvir have also been given tickets. However, Ajay Yadav’s son Chiranjeevi has been denied a ticket.

Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala will be contesting from Kaithal.      

The state Congress chief, who was hand-picked by Gandhi, was unable to get tickets even for his supporters, according to party insiders.

Senior leaders said sulking Tanwar was unlikely to raise banner of revolt. With his detractors having left the Congress, Hooda, despite his two-term anti-incumbency, has complete authority over party affairs in the state.