Haryana Politics: This time, a tough fight is being seen between BJP and Congress in Haryana Assembly elections. Both the parties had won 5 seats each in the Lok Sabha elections and now during the Assembly elections, both the parties are trying to defeat each other. While on one hand BJP is trying to come to power for the third time in a row, on the other hand, Congress is dreaming of forming the government this time despite factionalism.
Before the assembly elections in Haryana, Congress has made it clear that no MP will be given a ticket in this assembly election. In such a situation, Kumari Selja, who was dreaming of contesting the assembly elections, has got a big blow. Rajya Sabha member Randeep Surjewala will also not be able to contest the elections. In Haryana politics, both these leaders are considered anti-Hooda. In such a situation, it is believed that the Congress high command is trying to clear the way for Hooda even before the elections.
Congress refuses to give ticket to sitting MP
After the screening committee meeting, Deepak Babaria, in-charge of Congress in Haryana, has made it clear that no MP will be given a ticket during the assembly elections. He said that if there is any immediate need, then permission will have to be taken from the party’s national president Mallikarjun Kharge first.
He also said that tickets of the current MLAs will be cut only if there is anti-incumbency. Babaria’s statement makes it clear that there is no possibility of any MP getting a ticket from the party.
Shailaja had expressed her desire to contest the elections
This decision of the Congress is considered important because Sirsa MP and former Union Minister Kumari Selja had recently expressed her desire to do active politics in Haryana and contest the assembly elections. After this statement of Babaria, the path of Kumari Selja getting a ticket for the assembly elections has been closed. Being a Rajya Sabha member, Randeep Surjewala has also been dropped after this announcement.
Another thing worth mentioning is that Babaria has been considered soft towards the camp of former Chief Minister Bhupendra Singh Hooda. The reason for this is that Babaria believes that Hooda is more powerful in the state than other Congress leaders Kumari Selja, Randeep Surjewala, Virendra Singh and Captain Ajay Yadav. During the Lok Sabha elections also, most of the tickets were distributed on the basis of Hooda’s choice.
Attempts to make way for Hooda
After this announcement by Babaria, the question has also started to arise whether the Congress high command is clearing the way for Hooda to become the Chief Minister? There has been a fierce tussle between two factions in the Haryana Congress. One faction is of former Chief Minister Bhupendra Singh Hooda and his son Deependra Singh Hooda, while the other faction is of Kumari Selja and Randeep Surjewala.
Now, according to the formula decided by the Congress, both Kumari Selja and Randeep Surjewala will be out of the race for the assembly elections. If the Congress manages to win the assembly elections, then in the absence of MLAs, the claim of these two leaders for the post of Chief Minister will also weaken.
On the other hand, Hooda’s claim will become stronger because there will be no strong opponent left to challenge him. Both the leaders are realizing this because Kumari Selja has also started talking about taking permission from the Congress high command to contest the elections.
Congress is not in favor of declaring CM face
However, Congress is not in favour of declaring any face for the post of Chief Minister before the assembly elections. Congress is also being cornered by BJP on this issue. BJP says that if Rahul Gandhi is such a big well-wisher of Dalit and OBC class, then Congress should declare Kumari Shailaja as the face for the post of Chief Minister.
Congress has also retaliated on this statement of BJP. State Congress President Udaybhan has asked whether BJP had declared the face for the post of Chief Minister in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh? In this regard, Bhupendra Singh Hooda says that the new Chief Minister of the state will be elected after brainstorming with the elected MLAs.
