SATISH HANDA

Its is not easy for Congress high command also known as a group of Gandhi family include trio Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and now Priyanka Gandhi Wadra to neglect former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda also leader of opposition in Haryana Vidhan Sabha successfully ruled over in the state for 10 years. No doubt, any political leader cannot claim himself or herself bigger than the party but it is possible in case of Hooda because out of 30 Congress MLAs in Haryana state 23 MLAs are his supporters and take a political decision on his advise. Hooda along with another Congress leader in the state was among those 23 MLAs as well senior Congress leaders in the country signed on the letter sent to Smt Sonia Gandhi demanding appointment of a full time party president in the state. In-spite of the fact, final decision after a long drama was taken to hand over charge party head to Smt Sonia Gandhi as party president and Hooda also admitted that Sonia, Rahul and Priyanka fron Gandhi family are their leaders a right choice.

It is well known that Bhupinder Singh Hooda is a popular Congress leader having good friendship with prominent party leaders including Gulam Nabi Azad, Ashok Gehlot, Anand Sharma, Kapil Sibbal, Prihvi Raj Chauhan, Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, Renuka Chaudhary and many more senior national Congress leaders. These 23 senior Congress leaders always supported each other as and when need arise. According to information, Congress high command took it seriously when 23 senior party leaders in a letter to Smt Sonia Gandhi desired change in party leadership and rumours about wiping them out from the party spread. This correspondent when had views of few prominent Congress leaders in Haryana state, they expressed faith in high command but on the condition of anonymity desired that Congress is losing reputation since past few years due to their unfavourable policies as well as with the leadership by a single family in party and most of them were of view that Hooda is a powerful Congress leader of opposition in Haryana state.

While having a view about Hooda, out of 30 ruling MLAs in the state, 24 MLAs expressed full faith in him saying that he is expert in poll management, capable to gather crowd during party rallies with his influence, capable to bring unity among Congress workers as well as leaders, has good contacts with leaders of political parties in opposition. It cannot be denied that it was due to Bhupinder Singh Hooda, of course along with joining hands with Shelja, Congress was able to win 31 Vidhan Sabha seats, whereas on the other hand BJP making tall claims to win minimum 75 Vidhsn Sabha seats was squeezed merely at 40 seats. A study reveals that there are few prominent Congress leaders dislike Hooda. Randeep Singh Surjewala, although a powerful minister in the state when Hooda was chief minister presently dislike him having a powerful lobbying with Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi. Former Union Minister Shelja now HPCC president was closely associated with Hooda during last Vidhan Sabha polls when both brought satisfactory results, but sources reveal that there is rift between both due to unknown reasons. Non-Jaat leader Kuldeep Bishnoi MLA Adampur Vidhan Sabha seat and also member Congress working committee too is not prepared to accept Hooda as his leader. There are few other senior Congress leaders including Kiran Choudhary and former Irrigation & Power minister when Hooda was chief minister in the state against him.