Chandigarh: The BJP has faced a backlash following its announcement of the first list of 67 candidates for the October 5 Haryana assembly elections. Minister Ranjit Singh Chautala and MLA Lakshman Dass Napa have resigned from the party after being denied tickets.
Energy and Jails Minister Ranjit Chautala, 79, the son of former Deputy Prime Minister Devi Lal, announced his decision to run as an Independent after a meeting with his supporters. He criticized the party’s decision to field Shishpal Kamboj from the Rania seat in Sirsa district, which he had hoped to contest.
MLA Lakshman Dass Napa, representing the Ratia reserve constituency in Fatehabad, also quit the BJP after being overlooked for re-nomination. Napa has since met with former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and confirmed he will join the Congress along with his supporters.
Former minister Karan Dev Kamboj resigned from his position as the state BJP’s OBC Morcha chief, citing dissatisfaction with the party’s choice of candidates. He expressed frustration that loyal party members were being sidelined in favor of newer entrants.
In response to the ticket distribution, several BJP members, including Minister Sanjay Singh and former Minister Sandeep Singh, were not included in the list, further fueling discontent. The party has fielded former Sirsa MP Sunita Duggal from Ratia, while former Haryana Congress chief Ashok Tanwar, who recently joined the BJP, was given a ticket despite losing his previous seat.
The BJP’s selection process has also caused frustration among other candidates, such as Kavita Jain, who was emotional about her exclusion from the Sonipat constituency despite her long-standing service to the party.
The BJP, aiming for a third consecutive term in Haryana, faces a strong challenge from the Congress, which is poised to capitalize on anti-incumbency sentiment. The election results for the 90-member assembly will be counted on October 8.
