Chandigarh: As Haryana gears up for the upcoming assembly elections, a fierce battle for the Chief Ministerial candidacy has erupted within the state’s Congress party. Bhupinder Singh Hooda, widely regarded as one of the strongest contenders for the role, now faces direct challenges from Kumari Selja and Randeep Surjewala, creating a complicated scenario for the party’s leadership.
The internal rift came to light when Kumari Selja openly challenged Hooda’s assumed path to the CM post just three days ago. Meanwhile, Randeep Surjewala, who is currently a Rajya Sabha MP and the General Secretary in charge of Karnataka, has also thrown his hat into the ring, expressing his desire to contest in the assembly elections.
The Hooda faction, in a strategic move, has proposed that sitting MPs should not be given assembly tickets, which could potentially derail the aspirations of both Selja and Surjewala. This proposition has left Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and senior leader Rahul Gandhi with the delicate task of making a final decision.
Ajay Maken, who chairs the screening committee responsible for ticket distribution in Haryana, has begun consulting key leaders individually. Sources indicate that the high command is wary of giving Surjewala a ticket due to his crucial role in Karnataka and the need to maintain the Congress’ strength in the Rajya Sabha, where the party currently holds 27 seats. A reduction below 25 seats could jeopardise Kharge’s position as Leader of the Opposition.
Although Selja is a prominent figure, the high command is concerned that her candidacy could escalate factional tensions within the party. However, some argue that a precedent exists—when Hooda became CM for the first time, he was a sitting Lok Sabha MP and not an MLA.
The high command is also considering the possibility of fielding Surjewala’s son, Aditya, as a compromise solution. For now, Maken has listened to all sides and will relay the final decision after further discussions with Kharge and Gandhi.
This internal contest has added an extra layer of complexity to the Haryana Congress’ preparations for the elections, with the decision on the CM candidacy likely to influence the party’s electoral strategy and unity in the state.
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