The Haryana Janhit Congress (HJC) declared Congress party rebel Ravinder Rawal as its candidate from the Panchkula constituency for the upcoming assembly polls on Thursday. A former president of the town’s municipal council, he contested the MC polls in 2013 but lost to a Bharatiya Janata Party candidate.
The party’s decision took supporters of four-time MLA Chander Mohan by surprise. The former deputy chief minister had sought to contest from Panchkula and had even launched his campaign. However, at a press conference, he said he was “happy” to contest from the Nalwa constituency.
Earlier a close confidante of Mohan, Rawal had later fallen out with him and got closer to chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, being present at almost all of the latter’s functions held in Panchkula.
He tried hard to get the Congress ticket but was trumped by sitting MLA DK Bansal, who had won the 2009 assembly elections.
“I was trying to get the Congress ticket but the party instead allotted it to Bansal. HJC then offered me the ticket,” said Rawal.
When asked about his enmity with Mohan, he replied: “In politics there are no permanent enemies.
{{/usCountry}}When asked about his enmity with Mohan, he replied: “In politics there are no permanent enemies.
{{/usCountry}}Punjabis form a large voter base in Panchkula and it’s only the Haryana Janhit Congress that has reposed faith in our community,” he added.