Haryana Minister Ranjit Singh Chautala Resigns After BJP Denies Ticket for Assembly Polls

Chandigarh: Haryana Minister Ranjit Singh Chautala resigned from the state Cabinet on Thursday following the BJP’s decision to deny him a ticket for the upcoming Assembly elections.

Chautala, the brother of former Haryana Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala, was one of nine sitting MLAs omitted from the BJP’s first list of 67 candidates.

A former MLA from the Rania constituency in Sirsa, Chautala plans to contest the October 5 polls as an independent candidate. The election results, including those for Jammu and Kashmir, will be announced on October 8.

Chautala sought to run from Rania but the BJP chose Shishpal Kamboj instead. Having joined the BJP earlier this year after serving as an Independent MLA, Chautala previously contested the Hisar Lok Sabha seat but lost to Congress candidate Jai Parkash.

Despite his loss, Chautala remained Haryana’s Power Minister under rules allowing ministers to hold their posts for six months without being state Assembly members.

Ranjit Chautala, the son of former Deputy Prime Minister Devi Lal, contested the 2019 Assembly elections as an Independent after being reportedly sidelined by the Congress.

The BJP released its first list of 67 candidates on Wednesday. Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini will contest from Ladwa, while Anil Vij will run from his stronghold in Ambala Cantt.