Haryana assembly elections: Meet the star candidates

Bhupinder Singh Hooda is a prominent Congress leader who served as the chief minister of Haryana from 2004 to 2014. Born in Sanghi village to freedom fighter Chaudhary Ranbir Singh Hooda.

​From 2002 to 2004, he was the leader of the opposition in the Haryana Assembly. He was sworn in as chief minister for the first time in March 2005 and again in October 2009 for his second term. Currently, he is the chairperson of the election management committee.(Image source: bhupindersinghhooda.in)

Nayab Singh Saini, hailing from the OBC community, is the newly appointed chief minister of Haryana and the current state president of BJP Haryana, a position he assumed in 2022. His leadership as Haryana BJP president in 2023 and subsequent elevation to Chief Minister in 2024 reflect his pivotal role in the party.

His leadership is seen as a strategic move to consolidate OBC and non-Jat votes ahead of upcoming elections, positioning the BJP to strengthen its influence in Haryana. (Image source: File photo)

Vinesh Phogat is a former wrestler, renowned for her achievements in the sport. A gold medallist at the Commonwealth Games, she secured victories in 2014, 2018, and 2022 and participated in the Paris Olympics recently. Additionally, she has earned gold medals at the Asian Games and Asian Championships and has won two bronze medals at the World Championships. (Image source: X)

In her election affidavit, Savitri declared movable assets worth ₹190 crore and immovable assets totalling ₹80 crore.

Savitri Jindal, chairperson of the OP Jindal Group and India's richest woman, has filed as an independent candidate for Hisar in the Haryana assembly elections. She declared movable assets of Rs 190 crore and immovable assets of Rs 80 crore. A former Congress MLA, she left the party in March 2024 after her son joined the BJP. ​(Image source: X)

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Dushyant Chautala is the deputy chief minister and youngest MLA of Haryana. A fourth-generation politician, he founded the Jannayak Janata Party (JJP) in 2018 after separating from the Indian National Lok Dal.

Previously, he served as the youngest MP in India at age 25. His leadership skills were evident from a young age, and he continues to raise important issues in the Haryana Legislative Assembly and Parliament. (Image source: X)

Anil Vij, the Home and Health Minister of Haryana, is a prominent political figure. He was first elected as an MLA in a by-election and has served as an independent MLA twice.

He has been elected six times from Ambala Cantt, including wins on BJP tickets in 2009, 2014, and 2019. Since Haryana's formation in 1966, he is the only independent candidate to win the Ambala Cantt seat twice. (Image source: X)