In response to the BJP’s first list of candidates favoring non-Jats, Congress has unveiled its own list focusing on Jat and Dalit candidates. The party aims to capitalize on Jat discontent with the BJP by fielding nine Jat leaders, including Bhupinder Hooda from Gohana, Vinesh Phogat from Julana, and Jagbir Malik from Gohana. Congress has also given significant representation to Scheduled Castes, with five-time loser Uday Bhan being re-nominated from Hodal.
In the recent Lok Sabha elections, Congress won both reserved seats in Haryana and led in 11 out of 17 reserved assembly seats. The party’s list includes nine Dalit candidates and seven OBC leaders, signaling an attempt to project itself as inclusive and counter the BJP’s non-Jat focus. Additionally, Congress has included three Muslim candidates—Mamman Khan from Firozpur Jhirka, Muhammad Ilyas from Punhana, and Aftab Ahmed from Nuh—in its bid for broader representation.
The list also features candidates from various other communities: Kuldeep Vats and Neeraj Sharma represent Brahmins, Bharat Bhushan Batra is from the Punjabi community, and Shamser Singh Gogi is a Sikh. Through this strategic selection, Congress aims to offer a broad appeal across different social and ethnic groups.
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