TICKET FRENZY IN HARYANA CONGRESS HITS FEVER PITCH

The political atmosphere in Haryana now is electrifying as Congress leaders ramp up their campaigns, each striving to secure party tickets for their loyalists ahead of the October 1 assembly elections.

- NEERAJ MOHAN

With the Congress Screening Committee set to begin its candidate selection meetings on Monday, the race for tickets has reached a fever pitch, with over 2,500 applications flooding the All India Congress Committee (AICC) office in New Delhi, fighting for just 90 seats.

The party's Screening Committee, led by seasoned leader Ajay Maken and comprising Manickam Tagore, Jignesh Mevani, and Srinivas BV, is scheduled to start meetings on August 25 to finalise the candidates.

The central leadership has tasked the committee with selecting candidates who not only represent diverse social backgrounds but also demonstrate unwavering loyalty and strong winnability.

Following the departure of senior party leader Kiran Choudhary, the remaining heavyweights-Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Kumari Selja, Randeep Surjewala and Capt Ajay Yadav―have intensified their efforts to ensure their supporters dominate the candidate list. These leaders are conducting parallel campaigns across Haryana, each projecting their loyalists as the most viable contenders.