M A I N   N E W S

Haryana rebels lay siege to Cong HQ
Anita Katyal
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, January 15
Even as Haryana Congress leaders despatched their supporters to AICC headquarters here to protest the distribution of tickets for the next month’s Assembly elections, party President Sonia Gandhi is learnt to have called all candidates for a meeting on January 19.

For the second day in succession today, the AICC headquarters was placed under virtual siege by the Haryana Congress leaders and their supporters who failed to get nominations for the coming poll.

Given the history of intense factionalism in the state unit and the angry protests triggered by the official announcement of candidates, Ms Gandhi’s meeting is expected to be in the nature of a pep talk.

The leaders will be exhorted to sink their differences and work unitedly for the party’s victory. At the same time, the candidates will be urged to contest the elections seriously and warned against creeping complacency.

Meanwhile, there was no let-up in the angry demonstrations as slogan-shouting party workers took over the entire stretch of Akbar Road in front of the party office, forcing the police to block traffic on the road.

Given the angry mood of the workers, security arrangements were tightened, the building was barricaded and even the doors of the reception were closed. All senior office-bearers, except AICC treasurer Motilal Vora, was present to listen to their woes. Aspirants from eight to 10 constituencies, including Gharonda, Asandh, Rohtak and Jundla, were among those who staged day-long noisy protests. They all complained that tickets had been given to “outsiders” while deserving candidates had been ignored.

Yesterday, Lok Sabha MP Bhupinder Singh Hooda had “led” an angry protest over the selection of Chakravarty Sharma for the Hasangarh Assembly seat.

The disgruntled workers raised slogans hailing Congress President Sonia Gandhi’s leadership but instead vent their ire at party leaders.