Haryana elections: Rebel Congress MLA Sharda Rathore knocks on opposition's doors

Faridabad: With Assembly elections just round the corner, politicians hopping from one party to the another in quest for a ticket is a common sight. One such politico is Sharda Rathore. A two-time Congress MLA from Haryana's Ballabgarh constituency, Rathore is amongst the legislators on whom the party was relying heavily after its humiliating defeat in Lok Sabha elections.

A lawyer by profession, Rathore was a hit in her constituency and a third term as the MLA would not have come as a surprise even for the opposition camp. However, things took a U-turn when Rathore reportedly met BJP President Amit Shah and also then party chief Rajnath Singh in late August sparking rumours of leaving Congress.

Rathore tried to put a lid on the controversy explaining that she was offered a BJP ticket but she being a 'Congressi' would not join the saffron brigade and would contest from Ballabgarh constituency for the Congress.

As the news reached Haryana Congress, CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda's son and MP Deepender Hooda Rathore reportedly summoned Rathore.

However, despite all this, Rathore and her team went ahead with campaigning for the elections as soon as Election Commission announced Assembly election dates. But state Congress President Ashok Tanwar soon cleared the air by announcing that the party would not allow 'traitors' to contest polls.

Party workers have already termed it as the "end of her career". She was reportedly upset with Hooda for not giving her a Cabinet despite she being a two-term MLA.

Unfazed, Rathore went knocking the doors of Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) led by the Chautalas. The INLD kept her in hanging and just two days before the filing of nomination papers, Rathore was denied a ticket. Sources close to Rathore have confirmed that INLD has changed its mind and would not be providing her a ticket.

While it is obviously a loss for Sharda Rathore, the Congress too realises that it will lose the Ballabgarh constituency without her. The blow comes at a time when the party is fighting with its back to the wall to retain power in the state.