Hooda stamp on party list
CHANDIGARH : The Congress has fielded about one-third fresh faces while announcing candidates for the 90 Haryana assembly seats for the October 21 elections. All the 15 sitting MLAs who won on the Congress symbol in 2014 have also been retained. Friday (October 4) is the last date for nomination. The list carries the stamp of former chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, with newly-appointed state Congress chief Kumari Selja, her predecessor Ashok Tanwar, former ministers Randeep Surjewala and Kiran Choudhry also getting a share in ticket distribution.
CASTE LINES
The party has given tickets to 26 Jats, six Ahirs, five Gujjars, five Banias, five Brahmins, four Punjabis, three Rajputs, six Muslims (including Meo Muslims), three Jat Sikhs, two Bishnois, four from backward classes and 17 scheduled caste candidates. Not a single candidate from Ror community which has considerable influence in a number of northern Haryana seats was there in the list.
BIG WHEELS
Some of the prominent names figuring in the list include former chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda (Garhi Sampla-Kiloi), former ministers Kiran Choudhry (Tosham), Randeep Surjewala (Kaithal), Paramveer Singh (Fatehabad), Rao Narender Singh (Narnaul), Karan Dalal (Palwal), sons of former chief minister Bhajan Lal – former deputy chief minister Chander Mohan (Panchkula) and Adampur MLA Kuldeep Bishnoi. Ranbir Mahendra (Badhra) and son and son-in-law of former chief minister Bansi Lal Somvir Singh (Loharu) also got party nominations.
FIRST-TIMERS
Those testing the electoral waters for the first time include Renu Bala ( Sadhaura), Shalley Gurjar (Naraingarh), Venu Singla Aggarwal (Ambala Cantt), Nirmal (Yamunanagar), Dr Navjot Kashyap Panwar (Indri), Tarlochan Singh (Karnal), Anil Rana ( Gharaunda), Sanjay Aggarwal (
Panipat City), Subhash Deswal ( Safidon), Anshul Singla ( Jind), Balram Katwal (Uchana Kalan), Bhupinder Ganguar (Barwala), Amit Sihag ( Dabwali), Vineet Kamboj ( Rania), Bala Devi ( Uklana), Baljeet Sihag ( Narnaund), Om Prakash Panghal (Hansi), Ram Niwas Rada ( Hisar), Randhir Panihar (Nalwa), Amar Singh (Bhiwani), Rao Arjun Singh ( Ateli), Raja Ram Golwa ( Nangal Chaudhary), Chiranjeev Rao ( Rewari), Dr Shamzuddin (Sohna), Mohammad Ajaz Khan ( Punahana), Neeraj Sharma ( Faridabad NIT), Vijay Pratap Singh (Badkhal).