Congress Unveils Mayoral Candidates for Key Haryana Civic Polls
With political momentum building in anticipation of the upcoming Haryana civic body elections, the Congress party has made a significant early move by announcing its mayoral candidates for two crucial municipal corporations. This strategic declaration signals the party's intent to solidify its grassroots presence and challenge the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in key urban centers across the state.
Candidate Selection and Political Background
In Sonipat, the Congress has nominated its urban district president, Kamal Diwan, to contest the mayoral seat. Diwan, who has been actively preparing for the polls over the past four months, expressed strong confidence in his candidacy. "I had contested earlier as well. Though I lost, I am confident of a decisive victory this time," he stated, emphasizing that the primary contest would be against the BJP.
Diwan revealed that his candidature was finalized during a key meeting in Delhi, where senior Congress leaders endorsed his nomination. He noted that former chief minister and Leader of Opposition Bhupinder Singh Hooda, along with Haryana Congress chief Rao Narender Singh, extended their support and urged him to intensify ground-level preparations.
Diwan previously contested the 2025 Sonipat municipal bypoll but lost to BJP's Rajiv Jain. He hails from a family with longstanding ties to the Congress party and currently serves as the president of a charitable trust in addition to his role as urban district president.
For Ambala, the Congress has fielded Kulwinder Kaur, who belongs to the Saini community, from a seat reserved for the Backward Classes (BC) category. Her husband, Kripal Singh, a retired Army personnel and active Congress leader, is well-known in social and political circles, potentially bolstering her campaign.
The party has, however, kept the Panchkula mayoral seat on hold, with a decision expected to be announced shortly.
Electoral Context and Recent History
The BJP has demonstrated considerable strength in recent municipal contests across Haryana, setting the stage for a competitive electoral battle:
- In the 2020 Panchkula mayoral election, BJP candidate Kulbhushan Goyal secured victory with 49,860 votes.
- In Ambala, the BJP achieved a comfortable win, defeating the Congress candidate by a margin exceeding 20,000 votes.
- During Sonipat's 2025 bypoll, BJP's Rajiv Jain defeated Kamal Diwan by a substantial margin of 34,749 votes.
Election Schedule and Process
The upcoming civic polls will encompass multiple urban local bodies across Haryana:
- Municipal corporations of Sonipat, Panchkula, and Ambala
- Rewari Municipal Council
- Municipalities including Uklana, Dharuhera, and Sampla
The voting is scheduled for May 10, with polling hours from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM. The electoral process will follow this timeline:
- Nomination period: April 21 to April 25
- Scrutiny of nominations: April 27
- Last date for withdrawal of candidatures and symbol allocation: April 28
- Repoll if required: May 12
- Counting of votes: May 13
As both major political parties intensify their preparations, the civic polls are anticipated to witness keenly contested battles across Haryana's key urban centers, potentially shaping the political landscape ahead of future state elections.
