Haryana Election: Karnal Or Ladwa, Or Both? CM Nayab Saini Hints At Contesting 2 Assembly Seats — WATCH

Haryana election 2024: Despite the state BJP chief announcing CM Nayab Singh Saini as contesting from Ladwa, Saini spoke about contesting from Karnal as well, leaving his nomination plans unclear.

In the lead-up to the Haryana Assembly elections, confusion has emerged regarding Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini's candidacy. On Friday, state BJP chief Mohan Lal Badoli announced that Saini would contest from Ladwa in the Kurukshetra district. However, during his roadshow in Karnal in the evening, Saini seemed to contradict this statement, remarking that he would also contest from Karnal.

When reporters in Karnal queried Saini about the BJP's candidate for Karnal, he responded, "I will contest the election from Karnal also, why are you worried?" Asked directly if he would file nominations from two seats, Saini avoided a clear answer, stating, "I will fight the election from Karnal", news agency PTI reported.

 "I thank the public of Karnal for supporting me...BJP will form the government in Haryana for the third time...The double-engine government will work together to increase the pace of development in Haryana...I am hopeful that I will continue to receive the support of the public of Karnal," news agency ANI quoted him as saying.

Earlier, Badoli confirmed that Saini would be fielded from Ladwa, a seat currently held by Congress's Mewa Singh.

Despite this, Saini responded to queries about his candidacy from Ladwa with a quip, "Who said so?" When informed that Badoli had mentioned Ladwa, Saini remarked, "He is the state BJP chief. He has more information than me."

Haryana Election 2024: BJP's First Candidate List Expected By Sunday

The BJP is expected to release its first list of candidates by Sunday for the October 1 polls, as per PTI. Badoli, the MLA from Rai in Sonipat, also indicated that he would not be contesting this election and mentioned that the party had no plans for alliances with other political parties. He stated, "There has been no discussion regarding stitching up an alliance with any other political party and asserted that the BJP would form the government with a clear majority."

The BJP's Central Election Committee (CEC) met on Thursday in Delhi to finalise candidates, and another meeting is scheduled in two days. Badoli, who took over as the Haryana BJP chief in July, noted that discussions on candidate names for all seats were conducted.

In March, Saini replaced Manohar Lal Khattar as Haryana Chief Minister. Khattar, who won the Lok Sabha polls from Karnal, is now a Union minister. Saini, who was the Haryana BJP chief and MP from Kurukshetra, won the Karnal Assembly seat in a by-election.

The 90-member Haryana Assembly is set to go to polls on October 1, with the counting scheduled for October 4.