Turncoats find place in BJP's 43-name first list - Times of India

CHANDIGARH: The names of Congress and INLD leaders who had switched loyalties to the BJP just recently figure in list of 43 candidates released by the BJP for the Haryana assembly polls.

Former All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary Birender Singh's wife Prem Lata would contest from Uchana Kalan of Jind district from where Singh has been fighting Vidhan Sabha polls. Rebel Congress leader Chhatar Pal Singh, who had joined the saffron party just few days back, will contest from Hansi constituency as BJP candidate. Chattar Pal Singh gained prominence after defeating former deputy Prime Minister Devi Lal.

Master Hari Singh, who was also in Congress till 2012, got a BJP ticket from Nalwa constituency of Hisar district. Educationist-turned-politician, Singh, had served as political adviser to the then Haryana Chief Minister Bansi Lal in late nineties.

Khap leader Shamsher Kharkara, who was INLD candidate from Rohtak in the recent LS polls, has succeeded in being fielded from Meham constituency of Rohtak district. Krishan Panwar, who had won 2009 assembly poll on INLD ticket, will be BJP candidate from Israna constituency. He had left INLD recently after the party did not give him ticket for upcoming assembly polls.

BJP's chief ministerial aspirants Captain Abhimanyu, Ram Bilas Sharma, Om Prakash Dhankhar and Manohar Lal Khattar's names too figure in the first list. Leader of BJP legislative group in the state assembly, Anil Vij will again contest from Ambala Cantt. Two other sitting MLAs, Kavita Jain and Ghan Shyam Sarraf will also contest from Sonipat and Bhiwani respectively. Ghyan Chand Gupta will contest from Panchkula constituency.

According to BJP leader JP Nadda, the party has given 11 seats to youths, while 7 seats have been given to women.

BJP fields former employee from CM's segment

Former president of local Jat Education Society and a former government employee of the excise department, Dharambir Hooda will be BJP candidate from Rohtak district's Garhi-Sampla-Kiloi seat. This constituency is being represented by chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda since 2005. INLD has already fielded Satish Nandal. Hooda had won the 2009 assembly poll by a margin of 72,100 votes against Nandal. Congress is yet to announce its candidates for the upcoming vidhan sabha polls.

Stay updated on the go with The Times of India’s mobile apps. Click here to download it for your device.