Five women got tickets in Congress' first list

For the Haryana assembly elections, the Congress on Friday announced the names of candidates for 31 assembly seats. In the first list, the Congress has given tickets to five women including female wrestler Vinesh Phogat. The five women to whom the Congress has given tickets include Shaili Chaudhary from Narayangarh, Renu Bala from Sadhaura, Vinesh Phogat from Julana, Shakuntala Khatak from Kalanaur and Geeta Bhukkal from Jhajjar.

Former Chief Minister and veteran Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda has been fielded from Garhi Sampla-Kiloli seat, while former Mayor of Karnal and sitting MLA from Sadhaura seat Renu Bala has been given the party ticket to contest again from the same seat.

Among the 31 candidates announced by the Congress, three leaders close to Sirsa MP Kumari Selja have been given tickets. Pradeep Chaudhary from Kalka, Shaili Chaudhary from Narayangarh and Renu Bala from Sadhaura have been given tickets. All three are sitting MLAs.

In the first list, only one leader Udaybhan, who lost the 2019 assembly elections, has been given a ticket from Hodal (SC) assembly seat. Udaybhan is close to former CM Bhupendra Singh Hooda and is the president of Haryana Pradesh Congress.

MLA Kuldeep Vats has been re-nominated from Badli assembly seat. The party has given Bishan Lal Saini a chance to contest from Radaur seat. Overall, the Congress has given tickets to 27 sitting MLAs out of the 31 declared so far. One MLA Varun Mulana has now become an MP after winning the election from Ambala Lok Sabha constituency, his seat has been held.

The party has also fielded Meva Singh against Chief Minister and BJP candidate Nayab Singh Saini on Ladwa seat. Assembly elections will be held in Haryana on October 5, while the result will be announced on October 8.