CHANDIGARH: The newly-elected Haryana assembly has 21 MLAs, who are law graduates, including a doctorate in law. As per data released by election watchdog Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) on Monday, the government-elect BJP has eight MLAs with a degree in law and outgoing Congress has nine lawyers as MLAs and INLD has three.

Independent legislator Jagbir Deswal, who defeated Union minister Sushma Swaraj's sister Vandana Sharma to get elected from Safidon, also holds a degree in law.

The outgoing Congress government had six lawyers in the state cabinet including chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Geeta Bhukkal, Randeep Singh Surjewala, Harmohinder Singh Chatha and Aftab Ahmed.

ADR analysis also revealed that 44 out of 90 MLAs are below the age of 50 years. There are nine legislators aged less than 40 years. Sukhwinder Singh and Rohita Rewri, who won from Badhra and Panipat City respectively, are aged less than 30.

R S Chaudhary, general secretary of INLD, appreciated the fairly young assembly this time. "Most MLAs are first timers. Now, more and more educated people have started participating in active politics. Things will improve in times to come," he observed.

S K Nayyar, office-bearer of a civil society group from Panchkula, also appreciated the new set of assembly. "On the face of it, we have a good set of MLAs in the new assembly. Now, we need to take it a step further by putting an end to the existence of regional parties as in western countries. This will make our democracy stronger. We are looking forward to the complete absence of MLAs with criminal cases in future."