In a bid to secure the first-mover advantage in the Haryana Assembly elections, the BJP has unveiled its initial list of candidates, naming 67 out of the 90 constituencies. The BJP candidates’ list includes Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, who will be contesting from the Ladwa constituency, alongside former minister Anil Vij.

Mr Vij, who has been the BJP’s candidate for the Ambala Cantonment seat since 2009, is once again in the running after securing three consecutive victories. Mr Saini, who previously served as MP for Kurukshetra, succeeded Manohar Lal Khattar as Haryana’s chief minister earlier this year. He currently holds the Karnal Assembly seat, which he won in a by-election in June.

Additionally, Haryana Assembly Speaker Gian Chand Gupta will stand from Panchkula, former Home Minister Anil Vij from Ambala Cantonment, ex-Speaker Kanwar Pal Gurjar from Jagadhri, and former Lok Sabha member Sunita Duggal from Ratia.

The BJP’s list coincides with the release of 19 candidates by its former post-poll ally, Jannayak Janta Party (JJP), in collaboration with the Azad Samaj Party of Chandrasekhar Azad. Former deputy chief minister Dushyant Chautala, according to the list released today, will contest from Uchana Kalan, where he currently serves as MLA.

भारतीय जनता पार्टी की केन्द्रीय चुनाव समिति ने होने वाले हरियाणा विधानसभा चुनाव 2024 के लिए निम्नलिखित नामों पर अपनी स्वीकृति प्रदान की है। (1/2) pic.twitter.com/1tpfHgogRR

— BJP (@BJP4India) September 4, 2024

Congress, the principal opposition party in the Haryana assembly, is also expected to announce over 30 candidates soon. Wrestlers Vinesh Bhogat and Bajrang Punia are also expected to feature in the Congress list. Both the wrestlers, who had protested against then BJP MP and wrestling body chief Brijbhushan Singh accusing him of sexual harrassment, has met Congress leader Rahul Gandhi earlier today.