Gurugram: Bhupinder Singh Hooda, leader of the Opposition in the 14th Haryana Legislative Assembly, won comfortably against his nearest rival, Manju Hooda of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), by 70,626 votes from Garhi-Sampla-Kiloi constituency in the state’s Rohtak district.
Hooda, who was Haryana’s chief minister from 2005 to 2014, was widely considered the favourite candidate for the post of CM in case the Congress managed a majority in the assembly election.
Born in 1947 into a family with a political legacy, Hooda hails from the Rohtak district. He has been a dominant figure in Haryana’s politics, particularly in the Jat community, which constitutes a significant portion of the state’s electorate.
Hooda first gained national prominence when he won the Rohtak Lok Sabha seat in 1991. He served as an MP for multiple terms, in 1996, 1998 and 2004, establishing himself as a key leader in Haryana and in national politics.
He quit the Rohtak seat in 2005 after was appointed CM following a decisive victory by the Congress in the state polls, and became an MLA from Garhi-Sampla-Kiloi. He has held the seat since that year.
In 2009, Hooda successfully led the Congress to retain power in Haryana and continued as CM.
Hooda is known for his agrarian policies and infrastructure development, which transformed Haryana’s landscape during his tenure. His administration focused on improving road connectivity, industrial growth and agricultural welfare, earning him popularity among farmers.
His political career has also faced some challenges, particularly after the BJP government came to power in Haryana in 2014. He has since been booked in several cases, including those pertaining to alleged irregularities in land acquisition.
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