Nominations Open For Haryana's Rajya Sabha Election 

Nominations for Haryana's Rajya Sabha by-election opened today, marking the start of a closely watched political contest. The election, set for September 3, will fill the seat left vacant when Congress MP Deepender Hooda won a Lok Sabha seat.

Equal Strength, High Stakes

The current political landscape in Haryana adds intrigue to this election. The ruling party and the opposition have an equal number of members in the state assembly. This balance has raised concerns about potential cross-voting, especially given the recent party switch of Tosham MLA Kiran Choudhry to the BJP. 

The Congress party has filed a petition to disqualify Choudhry under anti-defection laws, but a decision is still pending. This situation leaves both sides uncertain about their exact strength in the assembly.

Candidate Speculation

While neither the BJP nor Congress has officially announced their candidates, speculation is rife. The BJP is rumored to be considering a female candidate, possibly from the SC community. Names in circulation include Banto Kataria, Sunita Duggal, and Kiran Choudhry herself.

Other potential BJP candidates include Kuldeep Bishnoi and Captain Abhimanyu. The opposition, including former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, has suggested nominating wrestler Vinesh Phogat to encourage athletes.

Election Timeline

The Election Commission of India has set a clear schedule for the by-election:

• August 21: Last date for nominations 
• August 27: Final day for candidate withdrawals 
• September 3: Voting day (9 AM to 4 PM) 
• Results will be announced on the same day as voting

The close numbers in the assembly make this election unpredictable. The BJP currently has 41 MLAs, with support from one HLP member and an independent, totaling 43. The opposition, including Congress, JJP, INLD, and independents, also claims 43 members.

Both sides are likely to work hard to ensure their members' loyalty and potentially attract cross-votes. The outcome of this election could have significant implications for Haryana's political landscape, especially with state assembly elections on the horizon.