Dissent in Haryana Congress ahead of assembly elections
Former state unit chief Ashok Tanwar, replaced by Kumari Selja, is at loggerheads with former chief minister HoodaThe development indicates deepening factional fights within the state unit of the party
Knives are out in the Haryana unit of the Congress amid an ongoing election campaign with its former state chief, Ashok Tanwar, on Thursday saying that the systems put in place by former party president Rahul Gandhi has been ‘crushed’ by vested interests within the party. He also alleged that favouritism and corruption are the major factors in nominations for the assembly polls to be held on 21 October.
The development indicates deepening factional fights within the state unit of the party, which could significantly impact the outcome of the elections, where the Congress is taking on an electorally resurgent Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) under chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar.
Tanwar, who was replaced as Haryana Congress chief by Kumari Selja last month, is at loggerheads with former chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda. The former state unit chief of the Congress did not mince words while attacking Hooda at a press conference in the national capital on Thursday. The Haryana Congress is morphing into the ‘Hooda Congress’, he said.
“Those who worked in the last five years and built the party have been completely ignored during ticket distribution. The top leadership understands our situation, but some with vested interests do not want young leadership in the party to grow," Tanwar said.
“There are 18 or 19 days more for the elections so let us see what turn politics takes," he said, indicating that all options were open before him. Tanwar said he will henceforth work as a ‘regular member’ and not hold any post in the party.
Selja has denied Tanwar’s claims on nominations.
Hooda could not be reached for a comment. However, a close aide of the former CM said: “Tanwar could not deliver in the 5 years he was the chief. The party lost all elections under him. The Congress did not perform well in Haryana during the Lok Sabha elections. It is unfair to blame senior leadership of the party in Haryana."
The internal tremors in the Congress was also felt in Maharashtra with senior leader Sanjay Nirupam saying he will not be part of the poll campaign.
“It seems the Congress doesn’t want my services. I had recommended one name in Mumbai for the Assembly poll. Even that has been rejected. As I had told the leadership earlier, in that case I will not participate in poll campaign," he wrote on Twitter on Thursday.
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