Haryana CM, former CM file their nomination papers from Karnal

The former Haryana Chief Minister is a BJP candidate for the Karnal Lok Sabha seat. While filing his nomination, he was accompanied by CM Nayab Singh Saini.

While Saini is contesting the assembly bypoll from Karnal, the seat that Khattar vacated for him, Khattar will be contesting from the Karnal Lok Sabha constituency this time.

For Saini to continue as CM, he must contest the Assembly by-election and win it.

The Congress has fielded Divyanshu Buddhiraja against Khattar and Tarlochan Singh against Saini.

Karnal Lok Sabha constituency comprises nine assembly segments. These include six represented by the BJP, including Indri, Karnal, Gharaunda, Panipat Rural and Panipat City, and one by an independent. The remaining three assembly segments of Assandh, Israna, and Samalkha are represented by Congress.

Earlier, Haryana Chief Minister Naib Singh Saini on Saturday hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said that he has continuously brought development to the country.

"We will win 10 out of 10 seats in Haryana and will also win the 11th seat by-election which is being held in Karnal," said the Chief Minister.

In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections in the state, the BJP swept the state, capturing all 10 seats and the Karnal Lok Sabha seat witnessed 68.31 per cent votes. The BJP's nominee, Sanjay Bhatia, won by a whopping margin of over 6 lakh votes in the last Lok Sabha election.

In the 2014 elections, the BJP won 7 seats, while the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) won 2 seats and the Congress secured only one seat. From the same Karnal Lok Sabha seat, the BJP's Ashwini Kumar had won in 2014, too.

Congress' Arvind Kumar Sharma won Karnal in 2009 and 2004, both times as a Congress candidate. This time, Sharma is contesting as BJP candidate from Rohtak against Congress' Deepender Singh Hooda.

The Lok Sabha elections for the 10 parliamentary constituencies of Haryana are going to be held in a single phase on May 25. (ANI)