Haryana assembly polls: Grandchildren of four ex-CMs may figure on BJP list

In Haryana, the BJP is looking to bet on several dynasts as its top leadership gathered here on Thursday to finalise the candidates for the upcoming assembly elections.

The party may offer October 1 poll tickets to the grandkids of four past chief ministers, including Haryana's three Lals (Bhajan, Bansi, and Devi). The BJP is expected to field Bhajan Lal's grandson, Bhavya Bishnoi, MLA from Adampur, and Bansi Lal's granddaughter, Shruti Choudhry, from Tosham, as well as Aditya Devi Lal, grandson of Devi Lal, from Dabwali.

Besides, former chief minister Rao Birender Singh's granddaughter, Arti Rao, is also a strong contender from Ateli. Arti's father, Rao Inderjit Singh, is a Union minister. In last assembly polls, she was not considered by the BJP as her father was a union minister.


While both Bhavya's and Arti's families supported the Congress before to 2014, Shruti recently shifted to the BJP from the Congress. Shruti's mother, Kiran Chowdhury, recently got elected to the Rajya Sabha on a BJP ticket.

The party is also looking to drop around 30% MLAs, including ministers Sandeep Singh, Sanjay Singh and Seema Trikha, to tackle anti-incumbency against them. Former Lok Sabha MP Sunita Duggal and senior party leaders of Haryana - OP Dhankhar and Capt Abhimanyu Singh - are also likely to be fielded again, after they contested unsuccessfully in the last assembly polls. Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini's name is also being considered for several other seats instead of his existing seat, including his native assembly constituency Naraingarh and Ladwa.