Chandigarh : Senior Congress leader, Former Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition Bhupinder Singh Hooda recently during a media gathering ‘Jan Milan Programme’ declared himself a strong contender for the Chief Minister of the state in case Congress wins majority in 2024 Vidhan Sabha polls which was organised by the former Assembly Speaker Kuldeep Sharma in the CM’s constituency. Hooda’s statement came at a time when factionalism was emerging during the district-level meetings before the co-ordinators. Rajya Sabha MP Randeep Surjewala and former Union minister Kumari Selja had already met Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and raised the issue of sidelining the party workers. The Congress from time to time is continuously conducting several public programmes like ‘Vipaksh Aapke Samaksh’, ‘Hath Se Hath Jodo’ campaign and ‘Jan Milan programme’ to attract Vote Bank in the state. While talking to media persons, Hooda said that through such programmes, we get feedback from the people, their problems, their desires and the suggestions.

Denying reports of any factionalism in the Haryana Congress, Hooda said there was no rift and groups in the party. All party leaders and workers are working to strengthen the party. He said anyone can meet party president Kharge, on being asked about Selja and Surjewala met him recently. The state president Udai Bhan was also present at the occasion. Hooda said the ‘Jan Milan’ programmes were being organised in all districts to reach out to the people and know about their issues. Hooda, as usual, strongly criticised the ruling BJP-JJP government in the state and blamed the alliance for failing on all fronts and bringing the state to a standstill.

Hooda accused the present government as a non-performing government ever since came to power, debt has increased five times, inflation four times, unemployment three times and crime has increased two times in the state, he said, due to unemployment the youth of Haryana are leaving the country and migrating to foreign countries which is a very serious problem. The priority of the Congress government will be to stop this migration by providing employment opportunities to the youth in their own state. Hooda demanded the resignation of former sports minister Sandeep Singh and alleged that in the chargesheet filed by the police, serious allegations have come to the fore, so he should resign on moral grounds.

Haryana Congress chief Udai Bhan present at the occasion said paddy had started arriving in the markets but till now the government has not started purchasing it, due to this the farmers were not able to get MSP. He said the district-level organisational structures would be formed soon. Meanwhile, former Union Minister and a former Rajya Sabha member Shelja while talking to media persons at her Ambala Cantt residence strongly condemned Hooda’s statement claiming that he was a right choice for the Chief Minister if Congress comes to power and said that such decisions are taken by Congress high command. Scenario reveals that several other senior Congress leaders in Haryana state like Randeep Surjewala, Kiran Choudhary and even Shelja seem to be active in the race to become Chief Minister in Haryana state (in case Congress wins majority in 2024 polls) since Shelja too while talking to media persons at a occasion expressed desire to contest Vidhan Sabha polls this time.
Hooda too during a media gathering admitted that Randeep, Kiran and Shelja are senior party leaders in the state whereas Mallikarjun, Karge, Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi are our leaders and any leader in the party is free to see them. Hooda refused, saying there is any conflict between Congress leaders adding that the selection of a chief minister is always made by the MLAs and the public. In reply to a media question Shelja said that any one may claim himself the chief minister, but the decision in this regard will be taken by high command. She said that politics have become unfortunate, in which some leaders try to become stronger, rather than making their party strong and that will not be possible in Congress. She said that Rahul Gandhi had made an appeal to all party leaders to join hands to make party strong which is not being fulfilled.