New Delhi: With just 90 Assembly constituencies, Haryana is not a big state but its politics is extremely competitive with a host of regional parties having the power to change the fortunes of their bigger rivals. The state has seen a small group of families - the Chautalas, Lals and Hoodas - controlling the state politics.
In fact Haryana has the dubious distinction of giving Indian politics a rather pejorative term 'Aaya Ram Gaya Ram'. The term was coined in 1967 when the then Hassanpur MLA Gaya Lal changed party thrice in a single day.
The state will vote in a single-phase election on October 15 while counting will take place on October 19. In the 2009 Assembly elections, the Congress had won 44 seats to emerge as the single-largest party in the state. Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) had bagged 28 seats with Independents the third largest block with six seats. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had only three while Bahujan Samaj Party had only one MLA.
Later five MLAs of Haryana Janhit Congress had joined the Congress after the 2009 elections making it possible for the latter to form the government.
But things have changed a lot since 2009 as the BJP is riding high after its superlative performance in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections which saw the party sweeping the state and bagging seven out of the 10 seats. The ruling Congress was decimated winning just one seat and INLD taking two.
But the BJP lost a key ally with the Haryana Janhit Congress (HJC-BL) of Kuldeep Bishnoi breaking off the three-year-old alliance on August 28, 2014. Bishnoi accused the BJP of betraying its allies.
Here is a list of 13 prestigious constituencies which are likely to see a close contest:
Tosham: This is a seat that belongs to the Bansilal family. Bansilal used to represent this, then his son Surendra and now Kiran Choudhary. He has been representing this after Surendra's death and is currently a minister in the Haryana government. But her daughter Shruti lost the Lok Sabha elections and it has become a prestige issue for Kiran. Both BJP and INLD are strong here. BJP's Dharamvir won the Lok Sabha election.
Badli: BJP Kisan Morcha National president OP Dhankad is the candidate from here and is eyeing the CM's post. He lost the Lok Sabha elections from Rohtak. It is extremely important for Dhankad to win the seat to maintain his political relevance. Congress has once again decided to put its MLA Naresh Kumar Sharma, INLD and HJC, too, are confident of a good show here.
Adampur: Bhajan Lal's bastion Adampur has been electing Kuldeep Bishnoi and his wife Renuka. But Kuldeep lost the Lok Sabha elections and it has now become a huge challenge for the family to retain the seat in Assembly polls. He is likely to contest the Assembly polls. INLD's candidate is former MLA Benilal.
Sirsa: This used to an INLD seat and is dominated by the Punjabi community. BJP has put up Sunita Setia who is the daughter of veteran Congress leader Laxman Das Arora. Gopal Kanda of the HLP, who was embroiled in case and accused in the suicide case of air hostess Geetika Sharma, is the sitting MLA. Now INLD is trying to wrest back the seat while Congress, too, is looking for a strong candidate.
Uchana: BJP has named former Congress leader Birendra Singh's wife from the seat. INLD chief Om Prakash Chautala is the current MLA and he had defeated Birendra Singh, who contested on a Congress ticket, by a narrow margin. This time too it will be a contest between the two families.
Hisar: Savitri Jindal, the chairperson of the Jindal Group, has been representing the seat for the last two terms. This has been a traditional seat for the Jindals. Jindal patriarch OP Jindal won Assembly elections from here and went on to become a minister in the state cabinet. Savitri is a strong contender for the Congress ticket once again while BJP has fielded Dr Kamal Gupta while HJC may field Gautam Sardana.
Garhi Sampla Kiloi: This seat is right in the Jat heartland of the state and is represented by Congress leader and Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda. BJP has fielded Dharamvir Hooda. But Bhupinder Singh Hooda has nursed this constituency and is hopeful of retaining it once again as he has represented it for the last two terms.
Dabwali: This is considered to be a stronghold of the Chautalas. The current MLA is INLD leader Ajay Singh Chautala. In the last Assembly elections Congress candidate Dr KV Singh, who is considered to be very close to the Devi Lal family, had given a tough fight to Chautala. INLD is likely to name Chautala once again while the Congress is considering naming either Dr Singh or his son and Youth Congress leader Amit Sihag.
Mahendergarh: Haryana BJP President Rambilas Sharma is once again contesting from this seat. He is the top CM contender from the BJP and a big win for the party and for him will boost his chances manifold. But he has lost the last two elections although he has also won twice and become a minister. He is likely to face the sitting MLA Rao Dan Singh.
Narnaund: BJP has once again placed its best on Captain Abhimanyu who is also eyeing the CM post. He had lost the last elections to BJP's Saroj. This seat has seen close contest between the Congress and INLD with the latter winning in the last election.
Ambala Cantt: This seat has seen the Congress and BJP locking horns at this seat. In the last elections Congress candidate Venod Sharma had won but this time he will contest as a Jan Chetna Party candidate. Shiromani Akali Dal, too, is hoping for a good show here and the contest will be between the Congress, BJP and SAD. This seat is currently represented by BJP's Anil Vij.
Karnal: This seat, too, is dominated by the Punjabi community and BJP has fielded Manoharlal Khattar. He, too, has his eyes on the CM post and is considered to be very close to the BJP central leadership. He is contesting for the first time and may face Congress MLA Sumita Singh. INLD is also strong in certain segments of the seat.
Rewari: This is another prestigious seat for the Congress and BJP. Current MLA Captain Ajay Singh Yadav will most probably be the Congress candidate once again. Considered a rebel, he has voiced his opinion against the Hooda government several times and is also the Congress Campaign Committee Chairperson. He has represented this seat 5 times and is a very strong candidate. BJP may name Union Minister Rao Inderjeet Singh's daughter Aarti.
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