In a dramatic turn of events, the Congress party has decisively ruled out fielding its sitting MPs from Haryana in the upcoming October 1 Assembly elections, throwing a spanner in the works for prominent leaders like Kumari Selja, Randeep Surjewala and Deepender Hooda, who had been speculated as potential chief ministerial candidates. However, the political observers believe that the development has made it clear that the Congress will be contesting this election without announcing the chief ministerial candidate to calm down internal differences between groups of former chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and Kumari Selja.
Deepak Babaria, Congress General Secretary and Haryana in-charge, delivered the surprising news to reporters after a high-stakes Screening Committee meeting led by Ajay Maken.
Babaria stated, “No sitting MP will be given a party ticket to contest the assembly elections. Our focus is on fresh candidates who can bring new energy to the party.”
The decision has sent shockwaves through the party, particularly impacting dalit leader and Sirsa MP Kumari Selja, who had been a frontrunner for the chief ministerial position of the party Similarly, Rohtak MP Deepender Hooda, who has been actively campaigning across the state under the Haryana Mange Hisab Yatra, has also been sidelined. The move underscores a significant shift in Congress strategy as it gears up for the crucial electoral battle.
In a pointed response to BJP’s criticism on social media regarding the Congress’ failure to declare a Dalit chief ministerial candidate, Babaria retorted, “This is a ridiculous question. In a democracy, the roles of Chief Minister or Prime Minister should represent all communities, not just a specific caste. BJP frequently exploits Dalit issues for political gain.”
He further challenged the BJP, asking, “Why hasn’t the BJP promoted Mayawati in Uttar Pradesh? And why is there no Dalit representation at the national level, despite their claims?” Babaria’s comments reflect the ongoing political tug-of-war and underscore the Congress’s intent to focus on broader electoral strategies rather than caste-based politics.
The Congress Screening Committee, which includes senior leaders Manickam Tagore, Jignesh Mevani, and Srinivas BV, is in the midst of a four-day deliberation process to finalize candidates for the elections. The committee’s recommendations will be forwarded to the party’s Central Election Committee (CEC), headed by President Mallikarjun Kharge, for final approval.
With over 2,500 aspirants vying for Congress’s 90 Assembly tickets in Haryana, the screening committee, chaired by senior leader Ajay Maken and including Manickam Tagore, Jignesh Mevani, and Srinivas BV, faces the monumental task of shortlisting candidates.
According to Congress sources, the committee will convene regularly over the next few days to finalize its recommendations, which will then be presented to the party’s Central Election Committee (CEC) led by President Mallikarjun Kharge. The panel has already conducted one-on-one discussions with all the leaders who contested the Lok Sabha elections in the state. Meanwhile, hundreds of ticket hopefuls from Haryana are stationed in Delhi, making persistent rounds to lobby their political leaders and bolster their chances.