Randeep Surjewala and Kumari Selja. File pic/X
While the Congress appears confident of winning the assembly elections, some leaders are unhappy with the Hoodas calling the shots and haven’t joined the campaigning
The “josh” may be high in the Congress regarding the Haryana assembly polls as it is confident of winning the elections but the spoiler in the game could be the infighting in the party. A scroll of the social media campaign of the Congress in the state clearly focuses on the Hoodas. Deepender Hooda has parked himself in Haryana and is drawing the plans and campaigning across the state. And wherever he goes he pitches and mentions Bhupinder Hooda as the next chief minister.
This is what sources say has irked the other leaders of the state. Now take Randeep Surjewala. Once close to the Hoodas, he was the PWD minister in the government and his profile rose as the communications department head and Karnataka in-charge as also his proximity to Rahul Gandhi. Today he has restricted himself to Kaithal where his son is the candidate. Randeep knows very well that his son has to win or his base will be further eroded, which was hurt after his defeat in Jind and Kaithal.
But the person to watch out for is Kumari Selja who has been open about her objection to Bhupinder Hooda calling the shots. She told News18 once, “We cannot allow any monopoly. Everyone is important.”
So far Selja has not ventured out to campaign across the state. She has been seen in Delhi even as Haryana is in poll mode with voting on October 5 and the results to be announced on October 8. The few times she has stepped out is to Hisar which is her constituency. Sources close to her say she is upset that all plans are being drawn by the Hoodas and that she has yet to finalise her campaign schedule.
For the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, this has become an issue to attack the Congress top leadership and Hoodas with. Chief minister Nayab Singh Saini told News18, “Look how they are treating Selja. She is a woman and Dalit.” Her absence and being upset could give the BJP a handle to question Rahul Gandhi’s strong pitch for Dalits, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, as well as the caste census.
Amit Malviya, national convener of the BJP’s IT cell, had posted on social media site X that when the Congress’s 7 guarantees were being announced, Selja was missing in action even though she was in Delhi.
Former Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar has thrown a googly. When asked if they could approach Surjewala and Selja to join the BJP, he said, “All options are open.”
The Congress has tried to play down the issue, with Deepender Hooda saying, “All leaders will campaign together.” This is the plan, but it is something which needs Rahul Gandhi’s intervention.
It is often believed that the Congress defeats the Congress. A sulking Selja and Surjewala could ensure that.
