Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini and former CM Manohar Lal Khattar submitted their nomination papers on Monday. Khattar, representing the BJP, is contesting the Karnal Lok Sabha seat, with Saini accompanying him during the filing.
Saini, meanwhile, is participating in the assembly bypoll for Karnal, the seat vacated by Khattar for him. Khattar, in turn, is vying for the Karnal Lok Sabha constituency this time. Saini’s continuation as CM hinges on contesting and winning the Assembly by-election.
The Congress has nominated Divyanshu Buddhiraja against Khattar and Tarlochan Singh against Saini.
The Karnal Lok Sabha constituency consists of nine assembly segments. Among these, six are represented by the BJP, which includes Indri, Karnal, Gharaunda, Panipat Rural, and Panipat City, along with one represented by an independent candidate. The remaining three assembly segments, Assandh, Israna, and Samalkha, are represented by Congress.
Previously, Haryana Chief Minister Naib Singh Saini praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday, highlighting his consistent efforts in bringing development to the nation.
“We will win 10 out of 10 seats in Haryana and will also win the 11th seat by-election which is being held in Karnal,” said the Chief Minister.
In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections in the state, the BJP achieved a clean sweep, securing all 10 seats, with the Karnal Lok Sabha seat witnessing a voter turnout of 68.31 percent. The BJP’s candidate, Sanjay Bhatia, secured a significant victory, winning by a margin of over 6 lakh votes in the previous Lok Sabha election.
In the 2014 elections, the BJP won 7 seats, while the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) secured 2 seats, and the Congress managed to secure only one seat. Ashwini Kumar, representing the BJP, had also won from the Karnal Lok Sabha seat in the 2014 elections.
The Lok Sabha elections for Haryana’s 10 parliamentary constituencies are scheduled to take place in a single phase on May 25th. Arvind Kumar Sharma, who previously won Karnal twice in 2009 and 2004 as a Congress candidate, is now contesting as a BJP candidate from Rohtak against Congress’ Deepender Singh Hooda.