Chandigarh, March 16
The “warring factions” of the Haryana Congress have been “liquidated” and replaced by a party with a united face. A few closed door meetings, table talks, the party high command’s intervention — it was all meant to not only contain the drift among the top party leaders in the state but also to bring them closer. At least that’s what the Delhi darbar of the Congress would like to believe after several rounds of meetings with state leaders held this week.

However, far from it, the meetings seem to have initiated a race among Congressmen of both factions — Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda’s camp and the detractors’ camp with “active” and “dormant” members presently seen as headed by union minister Kumari Selja to “prove their point”.

While the meetings may have silenced “public criticism” of the Haryana government “for the time being”, the divide in the state unit seems to have become more pronounced with members of both camps making a beeline for Delhi to “set the record straight”.

Right after the first meeting between Hooda and Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi and the follow-up meeting between Hooda and Selja, called by Congress president Sonia Gandhi, leaders of the state have either met the party top brass or sought time for the same.

Among those who have already met either Sonia Gandhi or Rahul Gandhi are Haryana Vidhan Sabha Speaker Kuldeep Sharma, state party chief Phool Chand Mullana, PWD Minister Randeep Singh Surjewala, Excise and Taxation minister Kiran Choudhry and member of Parliament Shruti Choudhry.

Sources said since a “majority” of the MLAs is staunchly behind the Chief minister, the party top brass has been apprised of the unnecessary noices being made by a faction which is faced with “political uncertainty” and the leaders have driven home the point that the allegations of regional bias hold no water.

However, the members of the “active” camp of defectors confirmed that they would meet the top brass to present the “true picture” over the next week. Congress MLAs Rajpal Bhukri and Naresh Selvel are among the few who will be meeting the high command soon. Sources said that Rajya Sabha MP Birender Singh and Power minister Capt Ajay Singh Yadav, too, have sought time from the party high command.

Congress leaders are of the opinion that while the meetings with the top brass have certainly “silenced” the government critics, it would be very difficult for the leaders to sink all their differences and work together, allowing no under-cutting at play.

“The Chief Minister holds sway over a majority of the MLAs who are not grumbling about any discrimination in development. It is only a couple of members of Parliament crying hoarse. The facts have already been presented to the leadership to take a call. Unlike Punjab, our state does not need a fighting Congress because the government has taken everybody along,” a Congress leader said.

However, the detractors’ camp is highly optimistic that in the light of the “so-called facts” presented by the Chief Minister, the picture has become clearer to the high command which will now step in and bring them some justice. Till then, the Delhi rounds will continue.