Taking moral responsibility, Babaria offers to step down

Congress’ Haryana general secretary incharge Deepak Babaria has offered to step down from his post, taking moral responsibility for the Assembly poll defeat, even as he has alleged that the Congress was “cheated” and its votes “stolen”.

Speaking to The Tribune, Babaria said, “I offered to resign soon after the result of the Haryana Assembly poll came out last week. While my health does not permit me to carry on, taking moral responsibility for the outcome, I offered my resignation to the party high command.”

Emphatic that the Congress had not been rejected by voters, Babaria alleged that the Congress votes were stolen. Without naming any party, he said, “Our votes were stolen in at least 15 seats. The EVMs were replaced and a certain proportion of votes was transferred to the quota of the Independents in the fray to bring down our numbers. I come from Gujarat and understand what can be done.”

While downplaying infighting in the Congress camp, he said the party might have suffered at seven to 10 seats because the top leaders did not see eye-to-eye, but this did not have any far-reaching implications. “We had our weaknesses and we made some mistakes in ticket distribution. Also, we dashed a few expectations, but the Congress, in this election, has been cheated,” he claimed.

Babaria, who was absent from campaigning on account of ill-health, said he had not submitted any report to the high command on what went wrong, especially since the Congress was hoping to make a comeback after being in the opposition for a decade.

“I have not submitted any report, but I will send out a letter to the Congress workers in the state. The party has not been rejected by the voters. It is not the end of the road for the Congress. However, the BJP has been able to project it got a great mandate and that PM Modi is a popular leader,” he said.

The BJP won 48 seats while the Congress won 37 seats in the 90-member House, which has three Independents, who have decided to support the BJP. Two seats were won by the INLD.

Sources said while Babaria had offered to step down, more changes could be in the offing. While the fate of Udai Bhan continuing as the state chief was under a cloud, all eyes were on the party’s choice of the LoP in the Vidhan Sabha.