AAP, BJP, Congress, JJP announce candidates as Hry polls campaign intensifies

Several other political leaders filed nominations on Monday, including Chiranjiv Rao of Congress from Rewari, BJP’s Lakshman Singh from Rewari.

Updated on: Sep 10, 2024, 08:22:19 IST

By Leena Dhankhar, Abhishek Behl

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With the deadline for filing nominations approaching on September 12, political parties have started announcing their candidates for key constituencies in South Haryana, including Gurugram and Badshahpur. The top leadership had initially taken a wait-and-watch approach, but as the campaign intensifies, candidates are now reaching out to their strongholds and party workers, seeking to unite dissatisfied members, say political observers.

The top leadership had initially taken a wait-and-watch approach but are now actively participating in campaigning. (HT Photo)

Bharatiya Janata Party candidate from Badshahpur, Rao Narbir Singh, held a series of public meetings across various villages on Monday, informing supporters of his plan to file his nomination on Tuesday. Singh promised to expedite work on key infrastructure projects like the Sheetla Mata Medical College at Kherki Majra and Gurugram University at Kankrola, aiming to boost healthcare and education in Badshahpur and Gurugram district. Singh on Monday visited Kherki Majra, Mohd Herdi, Babupur, Dharampur, Samaspur and several other villages in the constituency.

“I ensured the development of Gurugram and Badhshapur from 2014 to 2019 but thereafter the development slowed down as an independent was the MLA. The people of Badhshapur will now decide how much say they want in the next government. I will always fight for the development of Badshahpur and this region,” Singh said, adding that he will ascertain that the quality of infrastructure and basic amenities are improved as a priority.

Meanwhile, BJP’s Gurugram candidate, Mukesh Sharma, also announced plans to file his nomination on Tuesday. “I assure the people of Gurugram that their voice and issues will be raised by me across all forums. The people of Gurugram are supporting the BJP across communities. BJP will win the seat for the third time,” Sharma added.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has declared its candidates for 20 assembly seats, including Badshahpur and Sohna, but is yet to announce a candidate for Gurugram. AAP’s statement confirmed that Bir Singh Sarpanch would contest from Badshahpur, while Dharmender Khatana would stand from Sohna.

Meanwhile, the Jannayak Janata Party (JJP) announced 12 candidates for assembly seats across Haryana, including Ashok Jangra for Gurugram and Amarnath JE for Pataudi.

Several other political leaders filed nominations on Monday, including Chiranjiv Rao of Congress from Rewari, BJP’s Lakshman Singh from Rewari, and Congress’s Rao Dan Singh from Mahendragarh.

Separately, senior Congress leader Ajay Singh Yadav, addressing a gathering, urged party workers to campaign vigorously. “The people want change in the government, but we must ensure that this sentiment gets converted into votes on the polling day,” Yadav said.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Leena Dhankhar
Leena Dhankhar is Senior Editor and Bureau Chief, Gurugram, at Hindustan Times, where she has spent over 17 years chronicling the transformation of one of India's fastest-growing urban regions. From starting her career as a crime reporter to leading the Gurugram bureau, her journalism has been defined by investigative reporting, in-depth storytelling and an unwavering focus on public interest. Over nearly two decades, she has reported extensively across crime, politics, civic governance, elections, real estate, environment, courts, sports, education and entertainment, covering Gurugram, Faridabad, Nuh and Palwal. Her reporting has exposed several major scams and systemic failures, including insurance frauds, waste management irregularities, illegal arms manufacturing units in Nuh, illegal mining in the Aravallis, organised crime networks and governance lapses affecting millions of residents. Known for her investigative work and exclusive stories, Leena has reported on high-impact national issues, including the Nicaragua charter flight carrying Indian migrants that was turned back amid allegations of human trafficking, exposing the growing network of illegal immigration rackets. Her work has also focused on gang wars, prison administration, juvenile crime, women and child protection systems, the functioning of the Juvenile Justice Board and Child Welfare Committee, and environmental challenges such as pollution, waterlogging and deteriorating civic infrastructure. Beyond hard news, Leena has extensively documented Haryana's rich heritage, forests and wildlife, bringing attention to the state's historical landmarks, biodiversity, conservation efforts and ecological challenges through immersive reportage and feature writing. Her journalism has consistently gone beyond breaking news. She has documented Gurugram's rapid urbanisation through long-form narratives and enterprise reporting on issues ranging from pothole-ridden roads, flooding and waste management to the changing social fabric of India's Millennium City. She also writes widely read feature columns, including The Outsider, Changemaker, and Concern for Gurugram, profiling people, places and ideas shaping the city's identity. Leena is the author of Gurugram School Murder, published by Juggernaut Books, a deeply reported account of one of India's most high-profile school murder investigations. She is currently working on her second book, an investigative work exploring some of India's most significant scams and fraud investigations. Beyond print journalism, she has expanded her storytelling through public speaking and digital media. She is a TEDx speaker and has produced podcasts exploring Gurugram's transformation, civic challenges and untold stories. Her work reflects a commitment to narrative journalism that combines rigorous reporting with compelling storytelling. A law graduate with an MBA in Human Resources, Leena brings a multidisciplinary perspective to her reporting, particularly on governance, public policy and legal affairs. She has travelled extensively across India to pursue investigative assignments, often reporting from remote locations and conflict-prone areas in search of stories that matter.Read More
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Abhishek Behl
Abhishek Behl is a Special Correspondent with Hindustan Times, Gurugram bureau. With over a decade of experience in journalism, he reports on Gurugram's rapid urban transformation, covering the city's changing infrastructure, governance, and planning landscape. His reporting spans major civic agencies, such as the Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA), Department of Town and Country Planning (DTCP), Haryana Shahari Vikas Pradhikaran (HSVP), and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). Behl has reported on key urban development issues such as RRTS projects, metro expansion, road and highway projects, water supply, drainage, mobility, environmental concerns, land use planning, affordable housing, and the city's real estate sector. He closely tracks policy decisions, infrastructure implementation, and their impact on the city and its residents. He also covers regulatory action against illegal constructions, urban flooding, traffic management, and initiatives aimed at improving civic services and sustainable development. Behl has also written on political developments in south Haryana, focusing on elections and governance. His journalism is driven by fact-based reporting, ground-level coverage, and an understanding of the social and economic dynamics of Gurugram. Apart from work he is a cyclist and a cricketer and a resident of Palam Vihar since 2010.Read More