What TV doesn't, print can't; we deliver.
What TV doesn't, print can't; we deliver.
NEW DELHI: In the recently concluded Haryana assembly elections, the Tosham seat saw a dramatic and closely watched battle between two family members, adding a unique layer to the electoral contest. BJP candidate Shruti Choudhry emerged victorious, defeating her cousin, Anirudh Chaudhry by the margin of 14,257 votes, in what has been described as one of the most talked-about family showdowns in the state.
Shruti Choudhry, the daughter of prominent BJP leader Kiran Choudhry and the late Surender Singh, son of former Haryana Chief Minister Bansi Lal, has had an extensive political journey. After her father’s untimely death in 2005, Shruti entered politics under the Congress banner, representing the Bhiwani- Mahenderagarh constituency from 2009 to 2014. However, in June 2024, discontent with Congress leadership, especially differences with Bhupinder Singh Hooda, led Shruti and her mother, Kiran Choudhry, to switch to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Kiran Choudhry, a towering figure in Haryana politics, had previously held the Tosham seat, winning four consecutive times as a Congress MLA. Her decision to vacate the seat and contest the Rajya Sabha by-poll under the BJP banner signalled a major shift in the political landscape. Winning unopposed in the Rajya Sabha elections last month, Kiran’s influence over the Bansi Lal stronghold remains undeniable.
The battle for Tosham was not just a fight between cousins but also a reflection of a deeper family political legacy. Anirudh Chaudhry, Shruti’s opponent, is the son of Ranbir Singh Mahendra, a former BCCI president and elder brother of Surender Singh. The contest drew significant attention, with both factions trying to claim the prestigious political legacy of Bansi Lal.
Shruti Choudhry’s victory is not only a personal triumph but also cements her family’s dominance in Tosham, a key seat in Haryana’s political landscape. Her mother’s consistent victories and their switch to the BJP earlier this year have reaffirmed the Choudhry family’s hold over the Bansi Lal bastion, despite their party affiliation changing after decades of allegiance to the Congress.
As Shruti takes her place in the Haryana Assembly, her win marks the continuation of her family’s influence in state politics, while also signaling a new chapter under the BJP banner.
