EC approves merger of Haryana Janhit Cong with Congress

New Delhi, Sept 9 (PTI) The Election Commission hasapproved the merger of Kuldeep Bishnoi’s Haryana JanhitCongress (BL) with Indian National Congress. In an order issued on September 6, the Commission saidthat it is satisfied that HJC (BL) — a recognised state partyin Haryana — has merged with INC. "Accordingly, the Commission has decided under theprovisions of …the Symbols Order that on its merger with theIndian National Congress, the HJC (BL) has ceased to exist asa separate political party and the name of the ‘Haryana JanhitCongress (BL)’ be removed from the list of recognised partiesas well as registered parties…," it said. The order said the reserved election symbol ‘Tractor’,allotted to HJC (BL) shall stand frozen until further orders. Bishnoi’s outifit had in April merged with Congress inpresence of party leaders Sonia and Rahul Gandhi. HJC was floated by Bishnoi’s father and former ChiefMinister Bhajan Lal in 2007 after parting ways with Congressas he was miffed at being sidelined by the party whichpreferred Jat leader B S Hooda as the chief minister in 2005.PTI NABSC