Despite recent reports of internal rifts, Congress leaders from Haryana displayed a united front at the first meeting of the Haryana Pradesh Election Committee held in New Delhi. This crucial gathering marked the beginning of the Congress party’s preparations for the upcoming October 1 assembly elections.
The meeting was attended by key Congress figures, including Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee in-charge Deepak Babariya, Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee President Udai Bhan, former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Sirsa MP Kumari Selja, Rajya Sabha MP Randeep Surjewala, former Union Minister Birender Singh, and Haryana Congress OBC Morcha in-charge Ajay Yadav. Additionally, several sitting MLAs and ticket aspirants were present.
According to party sources, two significant resolutions were passed during the meeting. The first resolution allows any party leader wishing to contest the election to apply for a ticket by August 25. It was also decided that any issues or concerns raised by party leaders should first be addressed to the state party in-charge, who will then work with other leaders to find a resolution. The second resolution emphasized inclusivity in ticket allotment, ensuring representation for women, youth, and the elderly. It was also agreed that elderly individuals and athletes of national standing would be given special consideration.
Deepak Babaria remarked, “We have taken two important decisions. All party leaders are invited to raise their concerns with the party in-charge, and screening committee meetings will begin after August 26 for the selection of candidates.”
Speaking to the media afterward, Bhupinder Singh Hooda emphasized the need to honour sportspersons, specifically suggesting that the Haryana government should accord Vinesh Phogat the same respect as a gold medalist. “Sportspersons do not belong to one state, and Vinesh Phogat should be honored like a gold medalist,” he added.
Captain Ajay Yadav, among other leaders, advocated for selecting candidates based on their winnability. He urged the party to conduct a ground survey to identify strong candidates, warning, “If tickets are not given based on winnability, the party will face results similar to the Lok Sabha election.”
The Congress High Command has already received an impressive 2,556 applications from aspirants vying for tickets across Haryana’s 90 assembly seats. Meanwhile, Birender Singh, the estranged BJP leader who recently joined the Congress, stated that all party leaders have resolved to contest the elections with strength and unity, as the people of Haryana are determined to deliver a historic defeat to the BJP.
However, the meeting wasn’t without tension. Reports indicate that a heated exchange occurred between HPCC President Udai Bhan and Kumari Selja, necessitating the intervention of party president Mallikarjun Kharge and senior leader Rahul Gandhi.
