On Wednesday, BJP leader Kiram Chaudhary filed her nomination as the party candidate for the Rajya Sabha by-election from Haryana. Some rebel legislators from the Jannayak Janata Party (JJP) also supported her candidacy. At the time of her nomination, Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, state BJP president Mohan Lal Badohli, several party legislators, BJP’s co-incharge for the state Biplab Kumar Deb, and some rebel JJP members were present.
Wednesday was the last day for filing nominations for the Rajya Sabha by-election. Given the current situation, BJP has the numbers to win. The opposition is unlikely to field a candidate, making Chaudhary’s unopposed entry into the upper house almost certain. Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda had earlier stated that his party would not field a candidate due to a lack of sufficient numbers. After filing her nomination, Chaudhary thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, and other senior BJP leaders, as well as Haryana Chief Minister Saini.
Chaudhary, a former Haryana minister, joined the BJP in June with her daughter Shruti and supporters. She thanked both BJP and other party legislators for supporting her nomination. Despite spending 45 years in Congress, Chaudhary stated that she is now committed to serving BJP for the rest of her life.
Chaudhary, who is from the family of Chaudhary Bansi Lal, a former Haryana Chief Minister who was allied with BJP in the 1990s, expressed her admiration for BJP’s policies and dedication to the state and nation. She had resigned from the assembly just two months after leaving Congress, and BJP quickly nominated her for the by-election.
The by-election for the Rajya Sabha seat in Haryana became necessary after Congress leader Deepender Singh Hooda won the Rohtak Lok Sabha seat. Elections for 12 Rajya Sabha seats across nine states will take place on September 3. Nomination papers will be examined on August 22, and candidates can withdraw their nominations by August 27. If needed, voting will occur at the Haryana Assembly Secretariat on September 3 from 9 AM to 4 PM. After Chaudhary’s resignation, the 90-member Haryana Assembly consists of 41 BJP members, 28 Congress members, 10 JJP members, five independent legislators, one member each from INLD and Haryana Lokhit Party (HLP), and four vacant seats.
