M A I N   N E W S

Challenge for Cong ahead of Haryana polls
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 29
The resignation of Captain Ajay Yadav has again brought the bickering in the Haryana Congress out in the open.

Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda — who has faced revolt from party leaders from time to time — has so far been successful in thwarting the rebellion with support from the Central leadership.

All those who have revolted against Hooda are the ones who supported him after he was picked as the chief ministerial candidate over Bhajan Lal in 2005.

The first to revolt was Kumari Selja, former Union Minister and ex-MP from Ambala. She accused Hooda of lopsided development in the state. She was joined by Hooda's cousin and former Finance Minister Chaudhary Birender Singh, who claimed that the state government was only favouring the Jat belt.

The second jolt to Hooda came from his classmate and friend Rao Inderjit Singh, who accused the Chief Minister of allowing 'change of land use' in Gurgaon by putting farmers at disadvantage.

He finally left the Congress to join the Bharatiya Janata Party before the last parliamentary elections and is now the Minister of State in the Modi cabinet.

Yadav's allegations against Hooda come at a time when the Haryana Chief Minister is facing flak over appointment of state information commissioners.

It is alleged that merit was ignored in the appointments as CM’s favourites managed to bag the posts.

Political circles, however, are abuzz with the talk that Yadav's revolt is a pressure tactic to get ticket for his son, who was denied the Gurgaon parliamentary seat this time.