Haryana Assembly Elections 2024 | BJP releases second list of 21 candidates; Capt Yogesh Bairagi to take on Vinesh Phogat

New Delhi: The BJP has released its second list of candidates for Haryana, fielding pitting Capt Yogesh Bairagi against Vinesh Phogat. The BJP has given tickets to two Muslim candidates — Naseem Ahmed from Firozepur Jhirka and Aizaz Khan from Punhana — among the 21 names it had announced on Tuesday.

This is the party’s second and of the 90 seats in the state, 88 names have till now been announced. The first list had 67 names.

Bairagi has been a pilot with Air India who earned his stripes during the Vande Bharat mission during the Covid-19 pandemic. By pitting a pilot against a celebrated wrestler (Phogat) in Julana, the party is open to experimentation in a seat (Julana) where it has not won before. BJP has also fielded a Hindu leader — state minister Sanjay Singh — from the Muslim-majority Nuh seat. He will face Congress strongman and Hooda aide Aftab Ahmed in the seat.

Tuesday’s list had the names of two women candidates — Krishna Gehlawat from Rai and Bimla Chaudhary from the Pataudi seat.

In all, as many as five sitting ministers have been denied tickets. This includes Seema Trikha, a multiple-time MLA from Faridabad's Badkhal seat and minister in the current Naib Saini cabinet. Dhanesh Adalkha has been fielded in her place; Trikha was made a minister after the change of leadership in Haryana.

Minister Banwari Lal has been dropped from the Bawal seat in Rewari; he has been replaced by Krishan Kumar, who has recently resigned from the post of Health Director.

BJP has dropped as many as seven MLAs including state president Mohan Baroli apart from the two aforementioned ministers in the second list. Gopal Kanda's brother Govind Kanda is among the MLAs dropped. Additionally, the party has also given tickets to as many as four candidates who list elections last term.

Voting for all the seats in Haryana will be held in one phase on October 5. Results will be declared on October 8.