Haryana polls: BJP drops 9 MLAs, including Gurugram's Singhla, 2 ministers

Haryana BJP's first candidate list for the Assembly elections drops 9 sitting MLAs, including Gurugram's Sudhir Singhla. CM Nayab Singh Saini to contest from Ladwa while 25 new faces have been named

Tensions are running high in the Haryana unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) following the release of its first list of 67 candidates on Wednesday for the upcoming Assembly elections, scheduled for October 5.

In its effort to combat anti-incumbency concerns after a decade in power, the saffron party has introduced a major shakeup for the upcoming elections, dropping nine sitting MLAs, including Sudhir Singhla from Gurugram.

Two cabinet ministers out

The party also did not name two cabinet ministers Ranjit Chautala and Sitaram Yadav, while Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini is set to contest the elections from the Ladwa seat. Additionally, eight sitting ministers were given tickets while the list named 25 new faces. There are also 8 female candidates on the list. Anil Vij has been given a ticket from Ambala Cantt.

MLA quits after being denied ticket

Among the dropped MLAs are Palwal's Deepak Mangla and Faridabad's Narendra Gupta. Angry over the situation, two MLAs, Laxman Napa and Haryana BJP Kisan Morcha State President Sukhwinder Mandi have resigned from their posts. The party replaced Napa with former MP Sunita Duggal for the state polls.

The development has also not gone well with the supporters of former Cabinet Minister Kavita Jain, who was also not given a ticket. In response, Jain and her husband Rajeev, the state in-charge of BJP’s minority wing, have expressed their dissent. Additionally, 26 officials, including Corporator Indu Vlecha, resigned from their positions on Thursday.

Supporters were called to gather at Rajeev Jain’s office in Sonipat today, where Kavita was reportedly seen in tears over the development, according to a report by Dainik Bhaskar.

Key names in BJP’s Haryana list:

1) Sunil Sangwan: Besides Saini and veteran leader Vij, other prominent names in the list included former jailer Sunil Sangwan, who had granted parole to convicted rapist and murderer Gurmeet Ram Rahim six times. Sangwan joined the BJP on Monday.

2) Arti Singh Rao: Union Minister Rao Inderjit Singh's daughter Arti Singh Rao will contest from Ateli.

3) Bhavya Bishnoi: Sitting MLA Bhavya Bishnoi is the son of Kuldeep Bishnoi and the grandson of former CM late Bhajan Lal. He will contest from Adampur Sahib.

4) Former Haryana BJP president Om Prakash Dhankar has been fielded from Badli.

5) Devender Babli: Former Haryana minister and Jannayak Janta Party (JJP) MLA, who was inducted into the BJP on Monday, will contest from Tohana. The Tohana MLA turned to the BJP after being denied a Congress ticket in the state Assembly polls. On August 17, he resigned from the JJP and endorsed Congress candidate Kumari Selja for the Sirsa Lok Sabha seat. Last week, the Congress said that he would not be given a ticket as he is not a primary member of the party.

6) Sanjay Kablana: Another former JJP leader from Jhajjar, who joined the BJP on Monday, has got a ticket from Beri.

7) Shruti Choudhry: The granddaughter of Congress stalwart Bansi Lal will be running for election from Toshan.