Led by Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Congress' battery of lawyers in poll fray

Congress has fielded an army of lawyers in the October 13 polls in Haryana. At least 12 from the ruling Congress and one from opposition INLD have either studied law or at one time were practising lawyers.

Chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, who is seeking re-election from Garhi Sampla-Kiloi in his home district Rohtak, is a law graduate and at one time even practised law.

State finance minister Birender Singh, seeking re-election from Uchana Kalan in Jind, is also a law graduate.

Power minister Randeep Singh Surjewala (42), the youngest member in the Hooda cabinet, is also a law graduate. He had defeated INLD president and former chief minister Om Prakash Chautala from Narwana constituency in 2005. Surjewala is now contesting from Kaithal after Narwana became a reserved seat.

Haryana's tourism and forests Minister Kiran Choudhry, seeking re-election from Tosham, is also a law graduate.

Other prominent Congress candidates with law degree include irrigation minister Ajay Singh Yadav (Rewari), speaker in the dissolved assembly Raghubir Singh Kadian (Beri), state party president Phool Chand Mullana (Mullana) and agriculture minister Harmohinder Singh Chatha (Pehowa).

Besides, D K Bansal, Geeta Bhukkal, Karan Singh Dalal, Ranbir Singh Mahendra and Somvir Singh (all Congress) also have law degree.

INLD candidate Ajay Chautala, a Rajya Sabha MP contesting the polls from Dabwali, also holds a law degree.