Groupism is also being considered a major reason for Congress’s defeat in Haryana elections. Even after the election results, the party leaders have not learned any lesson. Now the camp for making the leader of opposition has started again. According to a report in Times of India, 31 out of 37 MLAs who won the elections on the Congress symbol are camping in Delhi these days at the behest of former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda. They had a meeting recently. The meeting took place two days before the legislature party meeting to elect a new leader.
At the same time, five MLAs close to Hooda’s staunch opponent and Sirsa Lok Sabha MP Shailaja stayed away from the meeting. Political observers say the Congress is likely to go for a non-Jat candidate as the CLP leader. Congress feels that by fielding a Jat leader like Hooda, the party has to pay a heavy price in the assembly elections. In this election, BJP successfully consolidated non-Jat votes and also gained the support of a section of Dalits in many places.
According to reports, the anti-Hooda faction is supporting Panchkula MLA Chandra Mohan for the post of CLP leader. MLA from Bishnoi community and son of former CM Bhajan Lal is also among the five MLAs who stayed away from the meeting. Those who did not attend the meeting held at Hooda’s house include Rajya Sabha MP Randeep Surjewala’s son Aditya Surjewala, Shaili Chaudhary, Akram Khan and Renu Bala.
MLAs close to Shailaja said they were not aware of the meeting held at Hooda’s residence. “This could be his personal meeting. Not a party meeting,” said one of the MLAs.
Let us tell you that Hooda wants one of his non-Jat loyalists to be appointed as CLP leader. The 31 MLAs who attended the meeting in New Delhi were given party tickets on the recommendation of Hooda or his MP son Deependra.