Congress MLAs authorise high command to appoint CLP leader

The Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting today authorised the high command to decide on the CLP leader’s name. It was former CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda who moved the resolution for authorising the party high command for choosing the CLP leader, and it was seconded by state president Udai Bhan. The resolution was passed unanimously.

Numbers with Hooda?

• One MLA on the condition of anonymity said “the numbers matter, and the numbers are with Bhupinder Singh Hooda”
• However, Kaithal MLA Aditya Surjewala said, “Changes are important. Changes should be made.”

The Congress has 37 MLAs in a House of 90 members. Central observers, including former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, national treasurer Ajay Maken, former Deputy Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh TS Singh Deo, and the Leader of Opposition in the Punjab Assembly, Partap Singh Bajwa, were also present in the meeting.

The central observers held one-on-one discussions with the MLAs, during which they talked about their preferences for the CLP leader’s post. Bajwa informed mediapersons that the high command would be updated on the MLAs’ opinions regarding the CLP leader. The CLP meeting lasted for more than three hours, and it was learnt that the majority of MLAs expressed their confidence in Hooda.

Thanesar MLA Ashok Arora said, “Bhupinder Singh Hooda is my choice for the CLP leader.” He dismissed talks of factionalism within the party, describing it as a media creation. When asked about his preference, Badli MLA Kuldeep Vats quipped that his choice would be the high command’s.

However, Kaithal MLA Aditya Surjewala, son of Congress general secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala, said, “Changes are important. Changes should be made.” On factionalism in the Congress, he stated that there was even more factionalism in the BJP, and as a result, Nayab Singh Saini’s government would not complete its full term.

Party MPs Deepender Hooda, Jai Prakash, and Varun Chaudhary were also present at party headquarters during the CLP meeting. In response to a question about the Congress’ loss, Olympian Vinesh Phogat remarked that victory and defeat were part of life, and as an athlete, she could understand this better. Regarding CM Saini’s claim that the Congress had exploited players, she replied that she was 30 years old, and no one could use her.

Selja loyalists, Panchkula MLA Chander Mohan and Sadhaura MLA Renu Bala, said they had expressed their preferences for the CLP leader’s post but declined to disclose them to the press.

Before the CLP meeting, Hooda hosted a lunch for the MLAs at his house. On October 16, he had also hosted a dinner for party MLAs at his Delhi residence, where 31 of the 37 MLAs were present, demonstrating his influence over the party’s elected representatives. His supporters are pushing for him to remain the CLP leader.

Hooda served as the CLP leader in the previous Assembly from 2019 to 2024. At that time as well, the majority of MLAs supported him.

“Although we have authorised the high command to decide the CLP leader, in the end, numbers matter. And the numbers are with Hooda,” said one MLA on the condition of anonymity.

In Haryana’s closest-ever election, the results of which were declared on October 8, the BJP emerged victorious for the third consecutive time, securing 48 seats with 39.94 per cent of the vote share. Congress’ 37 seats came with 39.09 per cent of the vote, just 0.85 per cent lower than the BJP.