After the delimitation process, the two parliamentary constituencies of Bhiwani and Mahendergarh were joined to form a single unit. The character of the constituency has changed from being purely a Jat belt to a Jat and Ahir majority region now. The tussle for the ticket is between the Hooda and the Kiran Choudhry group, with late Bansi Lal’s older son Ranbir Mahendra also joining the party. MLA Rao Daan Singh is another aspirant for the ticket.

In Karnal, sitting Congress MP Dr Arvind Sharma is the strongest candidate, but keeping in mind his flirtations with the BSP last year, some partymen are demanding that he should not be relied upon. The names making the rounds for the constituency, considered a Brahmin belt, are former minister Venod Sharma and Kuldeep Sharma, working president of the HPCC.

Businessman Avinash Poliwal, a relative of Janardan Dwivedi, is also trying hard for the ticket.

The Hisar and the Sirsa seats do not have many Congress aspirants. Jai Prakash is likely to be nominated from Hisar seat, while Buta Singh, chairman of the SC Commission, is said to be in the running for the Sirsa seat, along with All India Youth Congress president Ashok Tanwar.