The Centre’s fresh move to allot land to Haryana for its separate Assembly building in Chandigarh has whipped up a political storm with all the political parties of Punjab joining hands to protest against it even as Haryana digs its heels on the issue. A report by Rajesh Moudgil
Out of ninety seats, Congress won thirty seven seats, only nine short for forming a government. It has accused BJP of manipulating EVMs by quoting CM Nayab Saini’s statement three days before polling to buttress its claim of manipulations of EVMs that ‘we were forming the government as “system” was with us’.
Now as many as 17 defeated candidates have filed separate petitions in Punjab and Haryana High Court challenging the election-results. For the 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 the Election Commission of India which rejected the allegations of manipulation of EVMs.
Political analyst Devinder Surjewala said that the delay in choosing a leader of the legislature party by the Congress speaks poorly for the party. 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 30 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 mishandling of election campaign by him had resulted in the Congress defeat. First, the decision was kept pending due to Maharashtra assembly elections, but now the debacle in Maharashtra has further demoralised the Party.
The Haryana incharge of the Congress, Deepak Babaria, has resigned owing moral responsibility for the defeat. The party has yet to appoint a leader of its legislative party and appoint a new chief of Pradesh Congress Committee to replace present chief Uday Bhan, a supporter of Bhupinder Singh Hooda.
Being the largest opposition party, the Leader of Congress Legislative Party will be the leader of a recognised opposition party, enjoying the perks of a cabinet minister. Kumari Selja, the National General Secretary of the Party is opposing the appointment of Hooda as leader of Congress legislature party. According to Congress sources, instead of Hooda, his nominee will be appointed as leader of the legislature party as the 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 a balance between both the groups, the leader of the legislature party will be a nominee of Hooda and Selja is likely to be appointed as Chief of Pradesh Congress Committee replacing Uday bhan.
For the first time since Haryana became a separate State, the assembly session went without a formal Leader of Opposition. Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini had a dig at Bhupinder Singh Hooda that he was waiting for a letter from boss for his appointment as Leader of his Party. An embarrassed Hooda shot back and told Nayab Saini that appointment of the leader was the party’s internal matter.
Political analyst Devinder Surjewala said that indecisiveness of Congress high-command, particularly of Rahul Gandhi, in maintaining balance between Hooda and Selja wa responsible for the defeat of Congress, adding that the party could not dissuade about a dozen rebel candidates from contesting polls, resulting in the defeat of official nominees in these constituencies. Moreover, Hooda was given a free hand in the selection of party candidates ensuring seventy two out of ninety tickets for his supporters even denying ticket to Ajay Chaudhry, a close confidant of Kumari Selja from Narnaund constituency.
Rahul Gandhi’s plan of having an alliance with Aam Aadmi Party was also sabotaged by Hooda . It is believed that alliance with AAP would have resulted in victory of the alliance, which would have given a major boost to the party, even in Maharashtra assembly elections. But the BJP’s victory in Haryana boosted the saffron party to the extent that Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealed to the electorate of Maharashtra to repeat the ‘Haryana model’ by defeating the Congress-led alliance. With a strength of 37 MLAs, Congress can play an effective role of Opposition and corner the ruling party on the crucial issue facing the state.
