The Congress party on Friday, September 6, 2024, released its first list of 32 candidates for the upcoming Haryana Assembly election, featuring prominent names like Olympic wrestler Vinesh Phogat and former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda. Phogat, who recently joined Congress, will contest from the Julana constituency, while Hooda is set to represent Garhi Sampla-Kiloi. Party State president Udai Bhan, who faced defeat in 2019, has been fielded from Hodal.
Congress has expressed confidence in its sitting MLAs, announcing that all 28 will be retained as candidates, with four new faces included. Among the candidates, Mewa Singh has been chosen to challenge BJP leader and Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini in Ladwa. Bharat Bhushan Batra will contest from Rohtak, Kuldeep Vats from Badli, Chiranjeev Rao from Revari, and Neeraj Sharma from Faridabad NIT. Surender Panwar, who was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in July over a money-laundering case linked to illegal mining, has been fielded from Sonipat.
The party has also included JJP rebel Ram Karan as its candidate from the Shahbad reserved seat and Independent MLA Dharam Pal Gondar from Nilokheri, both of whom recently switched their allegiance to Congress. The decision to field these candidates came after the Congress Central Election Committee (CEC) met in New Delhi. The meeting was attended by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, former party chief Sonia Gandhi, and other senior leaders.
Phogat’s inclusion in the Congress lineup follows her active participation in protests against ex-WFI president and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh over sexual harassment allegations. Her candidacy adds a fresh dynamic to the party’s strategy in Haryana. The 90-seat Haryana Assembly election is scheduled for October 5, with results to be announced on October 8. For Congress, which has been out of power for a decade, this election is crucial for its revival in the state.