Congress Announces 31 Candidates for Haryana Assembly Elections

The Haryana Story reports that the Indian National Congress has taken a significant step in preparation for the upcoming Haryana Assembly elections by announcing its first list of 31 candidates. This move comes shortly after the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) released names for 67 seats in the 90-member assembly.

The Congress list features several notable names, including former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, who will be contesting again. In a surprising development, Olympic wrestler Vinesh Phogat, who joined the party earlier the same day, has been given a ticket from Julana, her in-laws' hometown.

One of the most talked-about decisions is the nomination of Surender Panwar from Sonipat. Panwar, a sitting legislator, is currently in jail in connection with a money laundering case being investigated by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

The party seems to have favored continuity, as most sitting MLAs have been renominated. This strategy appears to be aimed at leveraging the experience and local connect of its current representatives.

The candidate selection process involved two meetings of the Congress Central Election Committee. The first meeting on September 2 discussed 49 seats, finalizing 34 names, including 22 sitting MLAs. A second meeting on September 3 dealt with 34 more seats, of which 32 were finalized.

It's worth noting that the Congress received an overwhelming 2,556 applications for tickets across the 90 assembly seats in Haryana. Some constituencies saw more than 40 aspirants vying for a single ticket, highlighting the intense competition within the party.

The announcement comes amidst an internal debate within the Haryana Congress about who should be projected as the Chief Ministerial face. While Bhupinder Singh Hooda is seen as a strong contender, others like Kumari Selja and Randeep Surjewala have also expressed their ambitions for the top post.

The Haryana Assembly elections are scheduled for October 4, with vote counting to take place on October 8. As the electoral battle heats up, all eyes will be on how the Congress positions itself against the BJP, which is looking to retain power in the state.

The Haryana Story will continue to bring you updates as more candidates are announced and the campaign intensifies in the coming weeks.