Haryana polls: Almost all sitting MLAs, Vinesh Phogat in Congress' 1st list

The All India Congress Committee on Friday night released the first list of 31 candidates for the Haryana Assembly polls, that included 27 sitting MLAs including former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda from his sitting Garhi Sampla Kiloi seat.

Wrestler Vinesh Phogat was fielded from the Julana seat within hours of her joining the party but her fellow wrestler Bajrang Punia missed the Badli seat that he was eyeing but got the consolation prize of the working chairman of the Kisan Congress.

With one more sitting MLAs expected to be in the nest list, the leadership has chosen to play it safe by renominating all party sitting legislators, mostly loyalists of Hooda and some of senior leader Kumari Selja.


The first list, released when the Congress-AAP alliance talks are struggling to make headway amid serious differences with some indicating a deadend, also included PCC president Udai Bhan, who is not an outgoing MLA, getting the Hodal (SC) seat. JJP MLA Ram Karan and Independent MLA Dharam Pal Gondar, who joined the Congress have been fielded from Shahbad (SC) and Nilokher (SC) seats.

The first list did not include the names of senior leaders and MPs Kumari Selja and Randeep Surjewala.