Rajya Sabha Elections in Haryana: BJP Considers Jat Face
Chandigarh, 2024-08-12 – One Rajya Sabha seat has fallen vacant in Haryana, and elections are scheduled to be held on September 3. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has begun selecting candidates for the upcoming election.
The party is considering both Jat and non-Jat candidates, with names like former minister Captain Abhimanyu, Kiran Chaudhary, and Om Prakash Dhankhar being mentioned. Other potential candidates include former MP Sanjay Bhatia and several non-Jat leaders.
The seat fell vacant after Congress’ Deepender Singh Hooda won the recent Lok Sabha elections. In the previous Rajya Sabha elections, the BJP supported independent candidate Kartikeya Sharma, who defeated Congress’ Ajay Maken.
Possible Jat Candidates Emerge
The BJP is considering fielding a Jat leader for the seat. Chaudhary, Captain Abhimanyu, and Dhankhar are all potential candidates. Captain Abhimanyu is a strong leader in the Hisar and Rohtak regions, while Dhankhar has significant influence across the state.
Congress Remains Silent
The Congress has not yet decided whether it will contest the Rajya Sabha elections. The party lacks the necessary numbers but is hoping for cross-voting. Some Congress leaders have demanded that Kiran Chaudhary be prevented from voting.
Political Posturing
The JJP and Congress have engaged in verbal sparring regarding their participation in the election. The BJP has 41 MLAs in the 88-member assembly, with the support of two independent MLAs. Two JJP MLAs facing disqualification are also supporting the BJP government. However, the opposition claims to have the necessary numbers to win the election.