Chandigarh: Kuldeep Bishnoi-led Haryana Janhit Congress (HJC-BL) today declared the names of 58 candidates for the October 15 Assembly elections and is set to announce another seven later in the evening.
Altogether, HJC will fight for 65 seats in the 90 member Assembly while its ally Venod Sharma-led Jan Chetna Party (JCP) will take on the rest 25.
Making the announcement in the presence of Sharma and his elder brother and former Deputy Chief Minister Chandermohan, Bishnoi said the list of candidates was a “perfect balance” accommodating all sections of society.
He said that the candidates had the blessings of all 36 castes of the state, and added that he would announce the names of remaining seven candidates by today evening.
Venod Sharma, a former Union minister and a former Congress leader, said he would declare the names of 25 candidates of his party tomorrow.
Bishnoi will contest from his traditional bastion Adampur, while his wife and sitting MLA Renuka will fight from Hansi whereas Sharma is to seek votes from Ambala. Chandermohan, who has been an MLA for five terms from Panchkula on Congress ticket, will test his nerves from Nalwa.
Former Congressman Dharampal Mallik, a one time strong supporter of Bishnoi's father Bhajan Lal, has been fielded from Tohana seat while Bishnoi's relative Dura Ram will fight from Fatehabad.
Of the total contestants, 45 are below the age of 55 years, Bishnoi said, adding that only two contestants were above 70 years of age.
HJC has fielded five women contestants and also romped Congress rebels Ravinder Rawal and Arjun Singh Gujjar.
