Indecisiveness of Rahul Gandhi -Yet to appoint leader of Haryana Congress Legislature party

Gustakhi Maaf Haryana-Pawan Kumar Bansal.

Indecisiveness of Rahul Gandhi -Yet to appoint leader of Haryana Congress Legislature party .It seems that Congress has not learnt any lesson from its defeat in Haryana and Maharashtra assembly elections.It is yet to appoint leader of its legislature party in Haryana and first time in history of Haryana, first assembly session was conducted without leader of opposition. Out of ninety seats, Congress won thirty seven seats, only nine short for forming government. It has accused BJP of manipulating EVMs by quoting CM,Naib Saini’s statement three days before polling to buttress its claim of manipulations of EVMs that ‘we were forming government as “system “ was with us’.

Now as many as seventeen defeated candidates have filed separate petitions in Punjab and Haryana High Court challenging the election-results. First time in the history of Haryana, such a large number of separate writ- petitions have been filed . Earlier a high- level delegation of the Congress Party had met and formally complained to Election Commission of India which rejected the allegations of manipulation of EVMs. Political analyst Devinder Surjewala said that delay in choosing a leader of legislature party by the Congress is unfortunate.

The Observers of Congress have met the legislators to know their viewpoint about the choice of leader of the party.It is believed that as many as thirty legislators have supported Bhupinder Singh Hooda but no decision could be taken as party high- command particularly Rahul Gandhi is not clearing Hooda’s name as it is believed that his mishandling of election- campaign by him has resulted into Congress- defeat.

First,the decision was kept pending due to Maharashtra assembly- elections but now debacle in Maharashtra has further demoralised the Party. The Party’s Haryana incharge Deepak Babaria has resigned owning moral responsibility of the defeat. Party has yet to appoint leader of its legislative- Party and appoint new Chief of Pradesh Congress Committee replacing present Uday bhan, a supporter of Bhupinder Singh Hooda. Being the largest opposition party,the leader of Congress Legislative Party will be the leader of recognised opposition- party, enjoying the perks of a cabinet minister.

Kumari Selja,the National General Secretary of the Party is opposing the selection of Hooda as leader of congress legislature party. According to Congress sources, instead of Hooda, his nominee will be appointed as leader of legislature party as party cannot afford to ignore Hooda considering the support of the Party MLAs he enjoys. Selja is pressing the name of Chander mohan for the post .It is believed that to maintain balance between both the groups, leader of legislature party will be a nominee of Hooda and Selja is likely to be appointed as Chief of Pradesh Congress Committee replacing Uday bhan. First time since Haryana became a separate State,the assembly session went without a formal Leader of Opposition .

CM,Naib Saini had a dig at Bhupinder Singh Hooda that he was waiting for letter from boss for his appointment as leader of his Party.An embarrassed Hooda had to reply to Naib Saini that appointment of leader is our internal matter. Political analyst Devinder Surjewala commented that indecisiveness of Congress high-command particularly of Rahul Gandhi in maintaining balance between Hooda and Selja is responsible for the defeat of Congress adding that Party could not persuade about a dozen rebel- candidates resulting into the defeat of official- nominees in these constituencies.Moreover Hooda was given free hand in selection of party- candidates ensuring seventy two out of ninety tickets for his supporters even denying ticket to Ajay Chaudhry close confidant of Kumari Selja from Narnaund constituency.

Rahul Gandhi’s plan of having alliance with Aam Adami Party was also sabotaged by Hooda . It is believed that alliance with AAP would have resulted into victory of alliance which would have given major boost to the Party even in Maharashtra assembly elections.But BJP’s victory in Haryana boosted the Party to the extent that Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealed the electorate of Maharashtra to repeat ‘Haryana model’ by defeating the Congress-led alliance. With strength of thirty seven MLAs, Congress can play an effective role of Opposition and could put the ruling-party on tenterhooks.Tailpiece .

To add salt to the injury Haryana government has asked Hooda to vacate official residence in Chandigarh which he is occupying in his capacity as leader of recognised opposition.