The Haryana Congress continues to see a widening rift among party leaders. Despite the continuous efforts made by the party’s high command, the scenario remained unchanged. It will not be less than an uphill task for newly appointed state in-charge Gohil and the party high command to keep the party leaders united ahead of Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Yatra, which is yet to enter Haryana on 21 December. The party high command is believed to be doing its best to bring the ongoing feud among the party leaders to an end. Bhupender Singh Hooda, a Congress stalwart and the Leader Of Opposition, and the other party leaders, namely Kiran Chaudhary, Kumari Seleja, and Randeep Surjewala, have been at loggerheads for a long time over the issue of dominance and political existence in the state.
Amidst this, and in an effort to resolve the issues and end the infighting, the Congress High Command has made several new decisions. The high command has appointed Shakti Singh Gohil as the new in-charge, replacing Vivek Kumar Bansal from the post. Following the defeat in Rajya Sabha polls, the Hooda faction was not on good terms with Bansal after he refused to recognise the party legislator who misled voters. Notably, the Hooda faction continues to dominate the state Congress, which has annoyed the other party leaders, namely Kumari Seleja, Kiran Chaudhary, and Randeep Surjewala. As a result, the opposition parties are not passing up the opportunity to attack the party.
In order to maintain the party’s balance of power, the Congress has appointed former Union Minister Kumari Seleja as the party’s in-charge of Chhattisgarh, which it rules, replacing P.L. Punia a few days ago. The decision came a year ahead of assembly elections scheduled in the state. Besides, she has also been appointed the general secretary of the party, strengthening her political position. Earlier, she was given a berth in the 47-member Steering Committee, which is the supreme authority in the party to take final calls on issues.
Presently, Hooda holds a unilateral hold in the Haryana Congress, and the high command does not seem in a position to neglect him.
