Old-timers outnumber fresh faces in Faridabad, 13 former MLAs in fray
Though political parties have fielded new faces, veteran candidates have outdone them in terms of numbers in the nine Assembly segments falling in Faridabad and Palwal districts. With 13 former MLAs and ministers trying their luck for more than one consecutive term, the participation of new faces in the political battleground is less as compared to their older counterparts.
While the oldest candidate is aged 67 years, the youngest is aged around 30 years in this region. The experienced ones include Mool Chand Sharma a former minister; Sharda Rathore from Ballabgarh; Raghbubir Singh Tewatia, Tek Chand Sharma, Nayan Pal Rawat from Prithla segment; Rajesh Nagar and Lalit Nagar from Tigaon; Vipul Goel from Faridabad, Neeraj Sharma and Nagender Bhadana from NIT; Karan Singh Dalal from Palwal; Udai Bhan from Hodal and Kehar Singh Rawat from Hathin Assembly segment.
While Faridabad, NIT, Badkhal, Tigaon, Ballabhgarh and Prithla are part of the Faridabad district, Palwal Hodal and Hathin seats come under the Palwal district.
The Badkhal segment, which is likely to see a direct contest, has Vijay Pratap of the Congress party and Dhanesh Adlakha of the BJP. Vijay Pratap had lost to Seema Trikha of the BJP in 2019. Adlakha is a first timer.
In the NIT Assembly segment, outgoing MLA Neeraj Sharma (51) is pitted against a novice Satish Fagna of the BJP, with former MLA Nagender Bhadana turning rebel after denial of the ticket by the BJP this time.
Former MLA Vipul Goel (52) has been fielded by the ruling party from Faridabad. His main opponent is Lakhan Singla (58), a Congress veteran who has faced two defeats earlier. Ballabgarh is another seat where both old and new faces are face to face in the electoral battle. Outgoing Cabinet minister Mool Chand Sharma (60) is locked in a three-way contest with Parag Sharma (37) of Congress and Sharda Rathore, a Congress rebel contesting as Independent. Sharda is a two-time MLA from the Ballabgarh seat.
Tigaon, the fourth seat in the district has two old rivals—outgoing MLA Rajesh Nagar of the BJP and a former MLA Lalit Nagar. The third contestant is Rohit Nagar (30) of the Congress party, who is the youngest of them all.
