As Haryana gears up for its crucial assembly elections, the Congress party finds itself in the throes of a fierce internal battle, with factionalism threatening to overshadow its electoral ambitions. Despite a significant resurgence in the recent Lok Sabha elections, where the party clawed its way back from a humiliating zero to five seats, the road to power in Haryana is anything but smooth.
The Congress’s central leadership is now wrestling with the monumental task of uniting its top brass in Haryana—a state known for its deeply entrenched caste dynamics and volatile political landscape. Former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Sirsa MP Kumari Selja, senior leader Randeep Surjewala, and Capt Ajay Singh Yadav, each with their own ambitions and loyalists, are locked in a high-stakes contest for supremacy within the party.
Hooda, a towering Jat leader and two-time Chief Minister, has declared this election his last, but his sway over the party is far from uncontested. Kumari Selja, a formidable Dalit leader, has emerged as a potent rival, launching her own campaign under the banner “Ab Haryana Ki Bari” in a bid to consolidate urban support and challenge Hooda’s dominance. Her initiative, closely following the Hooda-led “Haryana Mange Hisab Yatra,” underscores the deepening rifts within the Congress ranks.
The absence of Selja and Surjewala from a crucial Election Strategy Committee meeting in New Delhi has only fueled speculation about the growing discord. Hooda, who commands the backing of most Congress MLAs, MPs, and state incharge Deepak Babria, is maneuvering to secure a lion’s share of assembly tickets, strengthening his claim to the Chief Minister’s chair.
Meanwhile, Selja’s “Congress Sandesh Yatra” has attracted key party figures like Renu Bala, Pradeep Choudhry, and Shamsher Singh Gogi, showcasing her own clout. However, the recent defection of senior leader Kiran Choudhary to the BJP has dealt a blow to Selja’s camp, weakening the SRK (Selja, Randeep, and Kiran) faction and potentially tipping the scales in Hooda’s favor.
Amid this power struggle, the return of former Union Minister Birender Singh and his son, ex-Hisar MP Brijender Singh, to the Congress fold has added another layer of complexity. While their comeback has buoyed the party’s spirits, it has also intensified the competition for tickets, further complicating the high command’s efforts to maintain balance.
Capt Ajay Yadav, a veteran from the Ahirwal region, is another wildcard, with his dissatisfaction over the party’s decision-making process adding to the leadership’s headaches. As ticket aspirants multiply—reports indicate over 2500 applications have been submitted—the party is conducting multiple surveys to assess candidate viability, underscoring the tough choices ahead.
Navigating these treacherous waters will require a deft touch from the Congress high command, as it balances the demands of Jat and non-Jat leaders in a state where caste politics are paramount. Political observers, like Professor Ramji Lal, warn that despite the Congress’s recent successes, the challenges ahead are formidable. “The BJP is focusing on OBCs and Dalits, and any alliance between the Indian National Lok Dal and the Bahujan Samaj Party could pose a significant challenge to the Congress,” he notes.
In a recent interaction with this reporter Bhupinder Hooda downplayed the internal tensions, insisting, “All leaders are doing their bit, and there are no differences in the party. Everyone is working hard to ensure Congress forms the next government in Haryana.”
