Rebellion in Congress: Rajesh Joon Quits, to Fight As Independent

Rajesh Joon, a sidelined Congress leader, announced that he will run as an independent candidate for the Bahadurgarh Assembly seat after being overlooked for party nomination. He alleged betrayal by the party and vowed to file his nomination on September 11. The Congress is fielding Rajendra Singh Joon instead.

In a dramatic turn of events, Congress leader Rajesh Joon announced his resignation from the party and declared his intention to contest as an independent candidate for the Bahadurgarh Assembly seat. His departure came just a day after the Congress released its first list of 31 candidates for the Haryana Assembly polls.

Joon, who had earlier expressed his desire for the Bahadurgarh ticket, claimed to have been betrayed by the party. 'I was used and thrown,' he told reporters, detailing his decision to run independently after consulting his supporters. Rajendra Singh Joon, the sitting MLA, is the Congress candidate for the same seat.

Rajesh Joon has a history with the Bahadurgarh Assembly segment, having unsuccessfully contested in 2014 and later withdrawing in favor of Rajendra Joon in 2019. With polling set for October 5 and vote counting on October 8, his independent run adds a new twist to the upcoming elections.

(With inputs from agencies.)