2,556 apply for 90 Congress tickets in Haryana

Ravinder Saini

Tribune News Service

Rohtak, August 14

As many as 2,556 aspirants from 90 Assembly segments of the state have applied for the Congress ticket in the upcoming Vidhan Sabha elections.

The highest 88 applications have been received for Nilokheri (reserved) Assembly segment in Karnal district while only one application from former Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition Bhupinder Singh Hooda has been received for Garhi Sampla-Kiloi Assembly segment in Rohtak district. Hooda is five-time MLA (twice from Kiloi and thrice from Garhi Sampla-Kiloi) Assembly segments.

Interestingly, besides incumbent MLAs, former MLAs, professors, retired bureaucrats, superannuated judge, advocates, doctors, journalists and teachers are among the aspirants. The last date to apply for the Congress ticket with a fee (Rs 20,000 for general category and Rs 5,000 for SC/BC/women category) was August 10.

“As many as 86 aspirants have applied for the Congress ticket from Julana, 78 from Bawani Khera, 57 from Uklana (SC), 55 each from Kalanaur (SC) and Barwala, 54 each from Kharkhoda (SC) and Panipat (Rural), 52 from Bawal (SC), 48 from Jind, 47 from Gohana, 44 from Narwana (SC), 40 from Narnaul, 38 from Ratia, 36 from Dadri and 29 from Nangal Choudhary,” sources said.

The list was eagerly awaited not only by the aspirants but also by people having interest in the politics at a time when padyatra being taken out by Rohtak MP Deepender Hooda under the Congress’ ‘Haryana Maange Hisaab’ campaign is getting rousing response across the state.

“Deepender’s padyatra is succeeding to maintain the momentum gained by the Congress in the Lok Sabha elections while local Congress leaders, including MP, MLAs, former MLAs and prospective candidates, too are leaving no stone unturned to register their presence with supporters in the yatra. Moreover, Deepender is now getting acceptance as a state-level leader in Haryana. The Congress seems to get a new leadership through this padyatra in the guise of Deepender Hooda,” said a political analyst.

Similarly, 56 aspirants have sought ticket from Shahabad (SC), 54 from Sohna, 46 from Mullana (SC), 45 from Guhla (SC), 44 from Hansi, 42 each from Pataudi (SC) and Adampur, 41 from Yamunanagar, 28 each from Meham and Kosli, 27 each from Ateli and Sadhaura (SC), 23 each from Karnal and Bahadurgarh, 22 from Hisar, 21 each from Beri and Badli, 18 from Tosham, 12 from Jhajjar (SC), 10 from Rohtak, 5 from Rewari, 3 each from Mahendragarh, Nuh and Palwal and two from Hodal (SC).