As the electoral battle heats up, the Congress party has unveiled its list of candidates, taking into account various factors including caste equations. Former Chief Minister Bhupendra Singh Hooda has managed to secure a significant number of tickets for his close associates and supporters, aiming to bolster his position ahead of the assembly polls. However, in this process, two prominent political families have faced a major setback as their members vying for tickets have been left disappointed.
Brijendra Singh, the son of Congress stalwart and former Union Minister Birendra Singh, and Shruty Chaudhary, the daughter of sitting Congress MLA Kiran Chaudhary, have been denied tickets. The unilateral dominance of Congress veteran Hooda is evident from the list, with seven out of eight Congress candidates being aligned with him.
The party has shown confidence in three-time MP Jaiprakash from Hisar, replacing Brijendra Singh, who was vying for the ticket from the same constituency. Despite being a strong contender for the Sonipat Lok Sabha seat as well, he was not fielded from either constituency. Recently, an audio clip surfaced featuring his father, Birendra Singh, suggesting potential support for opponents if the Congress high command nominated a candidate from Sonipat, further complicating matters.
In response to his son’s ticket denial, Chaudhary Birendra Singh expressed disappointment, emphasizing Brijendra Singh’s eagerness to contest the elections. Meanwhile, Congress President Uday Bhan clarified that Brijendra Singh had not joined the party with any assurance of a ticket but rather based on his alignment with the party’s ideology.
Similarly, the Congress has not nominated anyone from the family of former Chief Minister Bansilal, another influential political lineage in Haryana. Former MP Shruti Choudhary, Bansilal’s granddaughter, was eyeing a ticket but was overlooked by the party. This marks the first time that Bansilal’s family will not be represented in the elections. Allegations of cross-voting against Kiran Choudhary, coupled with Hooda’s lobbying for his close associate Rao Dan Singh, likely influenced the party’s decision.
Before the ticket announcement, some farmers had voiced their opposition to Birendra Singh’s son Brijendra, citing his absence during the 16-month-long farmers’ protest in Uchana.