Disgruntled BJP leader Karan Dev Kamboj meets ex-CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda in Delhi

Disgruntled BJP leader and former minister Karan Dev Kamboj had a meeting with Congress leader and former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda in Delhi today.

Kamboj was called by Hooda in Delhi reportedly offering him to join the Congress and support the party in the election. However, he will take the decision after a meeting with his supporters in Indri town of Karnal on September 10.

“Today evening, I met former CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda in Delhi and held discussions on some issues,” Kamboj told The Tribune over phone.

Sources said the Congress was not in a position to offer him a ticket at this stage from the Indri constituency as former MLA Rakesh Kamboj (elected in 2005 Assembly election on Congress ticket from Indri seat) and some other party leaders are strong contenders for the party ticket.

Sources close to Kamboj said if the Congress didn’t offer him ticket, he might contest the election as an Independent candidate.

“Our Kamboj community wants that if Rakesh Kamboj is fielded by the Congress, Karan Dev Kamboj should not fight election from Indri. If Rakesh fails to get a party ticket, then he may contest the election from here,” said a source close to Kamboj said.

He contested the Assembly election of 2019 from Radaur Assembly constituency but he was defeated by Congress candidate Bishan Lal Saini. Earlier, he contested the Assembly elections from the Indri constituency of Karnal in 2014.

He won the election and became Minister of State for Food Civil Supplies and Consumer Affair and Forest in Haryana government led by CM Manohar Lal Khattar.

After being denied a ticket by the BJP from Radaur Assembly constituency of Yamunanagar district, Kamboj resigned from the post of president of BJP OBC Morcha, Haryana and other posts of the BJP on September 5.

Cong not in position to offer ticket: sources

According to sources, the Congress is not in a position to offer him a ticket at this stage from the Indri constituency as ex-MLA Rakesh Kamboj (elected in 2005 Assembly elections on Congress ticket from Indri seat) and some other party leaders are strong contenders for the party ticket.