Hooda defends Selja, dismisses Khattar’s offer as BJP tries to poach Congress leaders

Former Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda has come to the defence of Congress MP Kumari Selja, calling her a senior and dedicated leader after Union Power Minister Manohar Lal Khattar asked her to join BJP. Hooda emphasised that Selja remains loyal to the Congress, describing her as “a senior leader of the Congress and comes from a long line of the Congress loyalists”.

At a public rally in Gharaunda, Hooda criticised Khattar’s claims of securing 60 to 62 seats in the upcoming elections, reminding him of his previous failed promise of 75 seats. Hooda urged the public to vote for the Congress, promising to restore Haryana’s position as a frontrunner. “Haryana has fallen behind in the regime of BJP, but under the Congress, we will make it number one again,” he said.

Hooda launched a scathing attack on BJP, accusing it of ruining farmers’ and youths’ lives over the last decade. He highlighted the Congress’ commitment to delivering on its seven guarantees, including Rs 2,000 monthly honorarium for women, Rs 6,000 pension for the elderly, LPG cylinders at Rs 500, 2 lakh merit-based permanent jobs, 300 units of free electricity, restoration of the old pension scheme and raising the OBC creamy layer cap to Rs 10 lakh

Hooda criticised the BJP government for failing to create jobs, forcing youth to migrate abroad, and offering insecure contractual jobs. He promised to regularise and fairly pay contractual employees under the Congress government. Congress state president Udai Bhan also raised concerns over the family ID portal, which has led to poor families losing ration cards and pension cancellations.

BJP’s inability to deliver on its promises and its faulty portals have drawn criticism from Hooda and Bhan. “BJP’s server is down, and their portal is no longer functioning,” Bhan said, urging people to vote for the Congress.