Haryana Assembly Election: Meet BJP's Pick Manju Hooda - Top Cop's Daughter, Gangster's Wife

Manju Hooda, wife of gangster Rajesh Hooda and daughter of a former senior police officer, Pradeep Yadav, has been named as the BJP candidate for the Garhi Sampla-Kiloi constituency in the upcoming Haryana Assembly elections.

She is set to challenge Congress stalwart and former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, who currently holds the seat.

Photo Credit: https://www.instagram.com/official_manju_hooda

Political and Administrative Career

Manju Hooda has served as the chairperson of the Rohtak Zila Parishad for over one and a half years. In her role, she claims to have focused on developmental projects, which the BJP aims to highlight in its campaign.

Her work at the Zila Parishad is central to her candidature, and she hopes it will resonate with the voters of the constituency.

Background

Manju's political journey is coloured by her family ties. Her husband, Rajesh Hooda, has a notorious past as a history-sheeter and strongman from Rohtak, a point that opposition parties may exploit during the campaign.

Despite this, Manju insists that her husband's background does not affect her work. She has distanced herself from his reputation and emphasises her dedication to serving the people.

She changed her name from Manju Yadav to Manju Hooda after her marriage to Rajesh, further linking her to the Hooda name, which holds considerable weight in Rohtak.

Family Ties in Law Enforcement

Manju's father, Pradeep Yadav, served as a Deputy Superintendent of the Haryana Police. His career in law enforcement adds another layer to her complex personal background.

BJP's Strategy

The BJP's decision to nominate Manju Hooda reflects the party's focus on creating a new narrative around her leadership in local governance and development, downplaying her familial connections.

By emphasising her achievements as the chairperson of the Rohtak Zila Parishad, the party hopes to make her a formidable opponent to Bhupinder Singh Hooda, who has been a dominant political figure in the area.