With new MLAs’ backing, MPs too can run for CM post: Cong

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 29

A day after emphatically stating that Members of Parliament would not be allowed to contest Haryana Assembly polls, the general secretary in-charge of the Congress in Haryana, Deepak Babaria, today toned down his statement to maintain that MPs interested in being the party’s chief ministerial face can do so after elections.

Strategic move

Congress sources said the move has been made to ensure that all senior party leaders feel that they still have a shot at the top post if the party comes to power in the state and they put in concerted efforts during the Assembly elections

However, this has come with a rider that they have to have the support of the newly elected MLAs. Babaria’s statement yesterday that no MP would be allowed to contest the Assembly polls, had ruffled the feathers of senior leaders, forcing him to take a step back.

While former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, also the face of the polls, is the top contender for the post, senior leader and the party’s Dalit face, Kumari Selja, an MP, has made no bones about her chief ministerial ambition and her interest to serve the state. The other contenders include Rajya Sabha MP Randeep Surjewala and Rohtak MP Deepender Hooda.

While Hooda is the Leader of Opposition in the state, all others leaders are MPs. Babaria, again, asserted that the decision of the party against fielding an MP was final and would not be re-visited. This decision has been taken to ensure that the party strength in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha does not go down further.

However, after closing the door, Babaria opened a win dow for the MPs, stating that those interested can still be in the race for the chief ministership provided they have the support of the MLAs after the results are out. The game for the top post is open once again though the MPs will have to wait until after the results to show their strength before the Congress top brass.

Sources said today’s tweak to yesterday’s statement has been made to ensure that all senior leaders feel that they still have a shot at the top post if the party comes to power in the state and they put in concerted efforts during the Assembly polls.

In 2005, the Congress had contested the Assembly election under the leadership of former Chief Minister Bhajan Lal who was the state unit chief and also had the support of the MLAs at that time. However, the Congress top brass had, back then, chose to hand-pick Hooda, an MP, to make him the Chief Minister.

The Congress, realising its mistake of “putting off” the other senior leaders in contention to be the CM face by barring MPs from contesting, was swift to correct itself and keep all hands on the deck till the polls are over.

The Congress is a divided house and the party’s biggest challenge at a time when things are looking up for it, is to bring its leaders on one platform and present a united face.

So far, the party has not been able to organise one single programme with all its leaders though they have been holding their individual rallies.