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Poll contest hots up in south Haryana

Campaigning for Haryana assembly elections intensified, with BJP, Congress, and independents reaching voters through rallies and outreach, as nominations approach.

Updated on: Sep 9, 2024, 06:28:18 IST
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Campaigning for the assembly elections heated up in south Haryana on Sunday with party candidates from the BJP, Congress, and independents in the fray reaching out to the masses through public meetings, rallies, social media and neighbourhood meet-ups. Banners, posters, stickers on cars and flags are also being splashed across the constituencies to woo voters. Several candidates also announced that they will file their nomination papers on Monday and Tuesday.

Kumudini Rakesh Daultabad at a public meeting on Sunday. (HT Photo)
Kumudini Rakesh Daultabad at a public meeting on Sunday. (HT Photo)

In Badshahpur assembly constituency, independent candidate Kumudini Rakesh Daultabad, who is the wife of late MLA Rakesh Daultabad, held an extensive outreach programme where she met residents of Aloha Apartment, BPTP Park View, Sushant Lok Sector 57, JMD Garden, Mayfield Garden, Orchid Island, Ram Vihar, Raheja Sector 108, and Signature Grand IVA Sector 103.

In her address, Kumudini said that she will continue the work of urban development being carried out by her late husband, and ensure development of Badshahpur. She is likely to file her nomination papers on Wednesday.

“My husband worked tirelessly to give Gurugram the infrastructure it needs and to raise the voices of the people of Badshahpur at the highest levels of government. I am dedicated to carrying forward his legacy, ensuring that our constituency receives the attention it deserves, from better roads to a more efficient public transport system,” she said.

She pledged to fast-track projects like the extension of the Metro network. “We need to bring Gurugram on par with other cities in terms of infrastructure, especially in public transport. Expanding the Metro to key areas such as Manesar and the city’s outskirts will be a priority,” she said.

Meanwhile, BJP candidate from Gurugram constituency, Mukesh Sharma, on Sunday announced that he will file his nomination papers on Tuesday. “I assure the city residents and those who are supporting me that their faith will validated and the problems and issues that they are facing will be resolved. I will work on the development of Gurugram and this will happen only after you ensure the BJP victory for the third time,” he told his supporters, who had gathered in large numbers at his office at Rajiv Nagar near Sheetla Mata Road.

In neighbouring Rewari district, where sitting Congress MLA Chiranjiv Rao is pitted against BJP candidate Lakshman Singh Yadav, Rao said he will file his nomination papers soon. Rao’s father is former minister Captain Ajay Singh Yadav (retd), who is the national president of Congress’s OBC department. “We are working towards defeating the BJP and ensure that Congress wins with large majority in Haryana to form the government,” he said.

Senior Congress leader and aspirant from Badshahpur assembly constituency, Pradeep Singh Zaildar, when asked about delay in naming candidates, said that it was part of the Congress strategy and efforts were being made to ensure that winnable candidates are fielded across the state. “No doubt the election campaigning will get delayed but party high command is focussing to choose candidates on basis of merit. If right candidates are chosen, we will form the majority government,” he said.

  • Leena Dhankhar
    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

  • Abhishek Behl
    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