North News
Chandigarh, August 29
Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge have taken decisive action to address infighting within the party in Haryana, ahead of the state assembly elections. To strengthen the party’s chances of defeating the ruling BJP, which has been in power for the past decade, the Congress has decided not to field sitting MPs in the upcoming assembly polls. This decision comes as the party seeks to build on its recent success in the Lok Sabha elections, where it secured 5 out of 10 seats in the state, the news outlet ETV Bharat reported.
The All India Congress Committee (AICC) in charge of Haryana, Dipak Babaria, confirmed this strategy, stating, “No sitting MP of either House will be allowed to contest the assembly polls.” According to party insiders, the Haryana Congress is currently divided into two main factions include one led by former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and the other by State Unit Chief Udai Bhan. The opposing faction is spearheaded by former Union Minister Kumari Selja, now a Lok Sabha MP from Sirsa, and Randeep Surjewala, a Rajya Sabha member from Rajasthan, the news outlet said.
Kumari Selja has been vocal in her criticism of Hooda, especially after the Lok Sabha polls, where she questioned the ticket distribution process. Recently, Selja stirred controversy by expressing her interest in taking a leading role in state politics. Despite directives from the party’s high command to avoid public disputes, Selja and Surjewala have been actively organizing mass contact events to rally support in their respective areas, the news outlet further pointed out.
The new directive from the Congress leadership, which also affects Selja and Surjewala, is likely to benefit Hooda. However, it could limit the political prospects of his son, Deepender Hooda, the Rohtak MP, who has been seen as a potential chief ministerial candidate. Bhupinder Hooda, who has hinted that this might be his last election, is believed to be positioning Deepender as his successor.
Internal disagreements among senior Haryana leaders have also emerged during recent strategy meetings chaired by Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge. The focus is now on ensuring that winnable candidates are selected to strike a balance within the party. Additionally, former Union Minister Birender Singh and his son Brijendra Singh, who recently joined the Congress from the BJP, add another layer to the ongoing power dynamics within the party.
