Haryana polls: Congress fields Randeep Surjewala's son from Kaithal in third list

Candidates for nine constituencies—Ambala Cantt, Panipat Rural, Tigaon, Sohna, Narwana, Bhiwani, Rania, Narnaund, and Uklana—are yet to be announced.

On September 11, the Congress released its third list of 40 candidates for the Haryana Assembly elections, featuring notable names such as Aditya Surjewala, the son of party MP Randeep Surjewala, who will contest from Kaithal. This announcement brings the total number of declared candidates to 81 out of 90 seats.

The third list includes several high-profile candidates: former deputy chief minister Chander Mohan from Panchkula, former minister Nirmal Singh from Ambala City, Akram Khan from Jagadhri, Balwan Singh Daulatpuria from Fatehabad, Ram Niwas Rara from Hisar, Pradeep Narwal from Bawani Khera (SC), and Mohammad Israil from Hathin. Vikas, son of Hisar MP Jai Prakash, will run from Kalayat, while Pooja Chaudhary, wife of Ambala MP Varun Chaudhary, is fielded from Mulana (SC), a seat previously held by her husband.

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Congress (@INCIndia) September 11, 2024

The party has also nominated Mandeep Singh Chatha from Pehowa, Gokul Setia from Sirsa, Bharat Singh Beniwal from Ellenabad, Ram Niwas Ghorela from Barwala, Rakesh Kumar Kamboj from Indri, and Sumita Virk from Karnal. Akram Khan will also contest from Jagadhri. Notably, turncoat Independent legislators Sombir Sangwan and Randhir Gollen, who had sought tickets from Dadri and Pundri, are absent from the list.

Candidates for nine constituencies—Ambala Cantt, Panipat Rural, Tigaon, Sohna, Narwana, Bhiwani, Rania, Narnaund, and Uklana—are yet to be announced.

Previously, the Congress had declared 32 candidates, including former chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda from Garhi Sampla-Kiloi, state unit chief Udai Bhan from Hodal, and wrestler Vinesh Phogat from Julana. The party also released a list of nine candidates, renominating all 28 incumbent MLAs. Mewa Singh is set to challenge Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini in Ladwa.

The Congress has been negotiating a potential seat-sharing arrangement with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), but talks have stalled, with AAP releasing multiple candidate lists. Internal disagreements within Congress regarding an alliance with AAP have also emerged.

Haryana Assembly elections are scheduled for October 5, with vote counting set for October 8.

(with PTI inputs)