Haryana Assembly Polls-2024: BJP Unveils First List of Candidates, See Details

In a bid to secure a first-mover advantage in the upcoming Haryana Assembly elections-2024, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has announced its initial list of candidates, naming candidates for 67 out of the state's 90 constituencies. 

CM Saini will contest from Ladwa

Among the prominent names featured are Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, who will contest from the Ladwa constituency, and former minister Anil Vij, who will represent the Ambala Cantonment constituency—a seat he has successfully held since 2009.

Saini, who previously served as an MP from Kurukshetra, took over as Haryana's chief minister in March after replacing Manohar Lal Khattar. He currently holds the Karnal Assembly seat, which he won in a by-election in June.

Shakti Rani Sharma fielded from Kalka

The candidate list also includes Shakti Rani Sharma, the wife of Ambala Mayor and former Union Minister Vinod Sharma, who will contest from the Kalka assembly constituency. Notably, Sharma is the mother of Manu Sharma, convicted in the high-profile Jessica Lal murder case.

Additionally, Shruti Choudhry, who switched from Congress to the BJP along with her mother, Rajya Sabha MP Kiran Choudhry, in June, has been selected to run from Tosham. 

Three former legislators from JJP also fielded

Three former legislators from the Jannayak Janata Party, which was the BJP's ally until this year, have also been fielded. These are Devender Singh Babli from Tohana, Ram Kumar Gautam from Safidon and Anoop Dhanak from Uklana. 

Other notable candidates include Deepak Hooda from Meham, a captain of the Indian Kabaddi team, and Union Minister Om Prakash Dhankar, who will contest from Badli. 

Eight women candidates 

The party's list features eight women candidates and indicates a strategic decision to drop several sitting MLAs, including some ministers.

Interestingly, Savitri Jindal, the mother of MP Naveen Jindal, was anticipated to receive a ticket from Hisar but did not make the list. The party has opted to retain the incumbent, Kamal Gupta, who also serves as a state minister.