With the polls drawing near, Congress has announced the names of the candidates taking caste equation along with other factors into consideration. Two-time former CM Bhupendra Singh Hooda succeeded in getting maximum tickets for his close ones and supporters in a bid to strengthen his position ahead of assembly polls. In this row, two of the prominent political families have suffered the biggest blow in ticket distribution as the members of the both families who queue for the ticket have been denied tickets. Brijender Singh, son of Congress stalwart and former Union Minister and Shruty Chaudhary, daughter of sitting Congress MLA Kiran Chaudhary have been denied tickets. Unilateral hold of Congress stalwart Hooda can be gauged from the list as seven out of eight Congress candidates are confident and in his good books.
The party has expressed confidence in three-time MP from Hisar, Jaiprakash in place of Bijendra Singh who was in the fray for ticket stalking claim on Hisar seat. Apart from Hisar, he was considered a strong Claimant for the ticket from Sonipat Loksabha constituency but contrary to expectations, neither he wasfielded it from Hisar nor Sonipat. It is pertinent to mention that recently an audio clip of his father Birender Singh, stating “ if Congress high command fields mission from Sonipat Lok Sabha seat then Hooda faction may extend support to opponents internally” went viral. Notably, Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) has fielded Sunaina Chautala while Jannayak Janta Party (JJP) Naina Chautala.
Chaudhary Birendra Singh, while reacting to denial of ticket to his son, said that “Brijendra Singh had expressed his desire to contest the elections.It would have been a wise step if Brijendra Singh had got a chance. If someone calls me for campaigning, I would like to, but not without being invited. On the other hand, Congress President Uday Bhan said Brijendra Singh Singh had not joined Congress on any condition or assurance of ticket. He has worked with Congress earlier also with the ideology of Congress and was among the contenders for ticket but the party high command is the final authority to take calls pertaining to all issues.
Similarly , the Congress has not fielded anyone from the family of former Chief Minister Bansilal, one of the prominent political families of Haryana. Former Chief Minister of Haryana Bansi Lal’s granddaughter and former MP Shruti Choudhary was in the fray for ticket a but the party rejected her candidature. It is the first time that Bansi Lal’s family will not be in the election field. Kiran Choudhary was on toes for the ticket for Shruti Choudhary. Since Hooda was lobbying for his close one Ran Dan Singh, she could not get a ticket and in this series, it came to light that Kiran Choudhary was facing allegations of cross-voting which resulted in defeat of Congress veteran Ajay Maken. It’s believed that Ajay Maken opposed the claim of Shruti for the ticket which led to the denial of the ticket of his daughter Shruti. Notably, before the announcement of the ticket, some farmers had met the party high command and protested against giving the ticket to Birendra Singh’s son Brijendra citing reason.
Since Brijendra refrained from visiting farmers’ protest in Uchana that lasted for 16 months.