BJP Expels 8 Leaders for Independent Candidacies in Haryana

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Haryana has expelled eight leaders, including former minister Ranjit Chautala and former MLA Devendra Kadyan, for contesting the upcoming assembly elections as independents. Haryana will hold its elections on October 5, with results expected on October 8.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Haryana has expelled eight leaders, including former minister Ranjit Chautala and former MLA Devendra Kadyan, for six years. These expulsions came as a result of their decision to contest the Haryana assembly elections as independent candidates against the BJP's official nominees.

Among those expelled are Sandeep Garg, Jileram Sharma, Bachchan Singh Arya, Radha Ahlawat, Naveen Goyal, and Kehar Singh Rawat. Party dynamics shifted when Haryana Minister Ranjit Singh Chautala resigned from the Cabinet after not receiving a ticket for the upcoming elections. Chautala, brother of former Haryana Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala, announced his independent run from the Rania seat.

Chautala stated, "I will contest as an independent candidate from the Rania Assembly constituency. It is the decision of the people of my constituency. After I did not get the ticket, I took this decision." The BJP has fielded Shishpal Kamboj from Rania and Sandeep Garg filed nomination papers against Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini from the Ladwa constituency.

Haryana will go to the polls on October 5 to elect a 90-member state legislative assembly, with counting set for October 8. In the 2019 assembly elections, the BJP emerged as the single-largest party with 40 seats, while Congress secured 30 seats.

(With inputs from agencies.)