The Tribune Interview: Being Dalit leader, Selja’s role crucial in poll

The Tribune Interview: Birender Singh, Congress leader

A five-time MLA and four-time MP, Birender Singh returned to the Congress before the Lok Sabha elections in April after a gap of 10 years. His son Brijendra Singh, who joined the Congress a month before him, is now contesting from the family bastion of Uchana Kalan in the Assembly poll, where he is pitted against former Deputy CM Dushyant Chautala. Birender, who hails from Jat icon Sir Chotu Ram’s family, in an interview with Bhartesh Singh Thakur discussed the state of affairs in the Congress and hosts of other issues. The excerpts:

The BJP claims that former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda has mistreated Kumari Selja. She has been missing from the Congress campaign too.

The BJP rakes up petty issues. I don’t give much credence to what they say. I don’t think Selja is missing from the campaign. She goes to constituencies where she has the influence. I have asked her to cover some constituencies in Jind. She is an important leader. There was an upsurge in Scheduled Castes (SC) votes for the party and the INDIA bloc in the LS poll. SCs have rallied behind the Congress. The best example is UP, where the BJP has been reduced to 34 seats (33). Being a Dalit leader, Selja plays a crucial role not only at the national level but also in the state poll.

Will she campaign for your son Brijendra?

I have asked Selja and Randeep Surjewala to campaign for Brijendra, while Hooda recently sought votes for him as well. I am expecting Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka too.

The Hooda camp has received the lion’s share of Congress tickets while just a few went to the Selja

faction. Doesn’t it reflect a rift within the party?

More than 30 sitting MLAs have been re-nominated as they have been fighting the government for the last five years. I don’t want to comment on which faction has received more seats. Many have received tickets because of their strength.

Did your son lose the Hisar ticket in the LS poll to Jai Prakash due to your past differences with Hooda?

There can be various reasons. Brijendra enjoys a good relationship with Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, as they were both part of the Parliament Standing Committee on Defence. However, he never sought a nomination from Rahul or Sonia Gandhi. He didn’t leave the BJP because he was being denied the ticket like others.

How do you see the JJP and the INLD in the poll?

The JJP has no future. Only four to five candidates will manage to save their deposits in the Assembly polls. Even Dushyant could lose his deposit. However, INLD may have some share in the Assembly. In 2019, the JJP got 10 seats as a mandate against the BJP. However, the JJP formed a government with the BJP. I call it political corruption. People despise them (JJP). I can see that.

You served as a minister in the Modi cabinet. Your son was a BJP MP in 2019. Why did you leave the BJP?

I could see their inner workings and found their philosophy damaging to society. There are four segments in society — agriculturists, army personnel, the working class, and minorities. The BJP targets all these groups. Some gain power by relying on religion and acting like monarchs. People are aware of their politics now.

Are you getting your due in the Congress?

I know my place in the Congress. I may be away from electoral politics, but for the past 52 years, I have been in active politics. The new generation should take over the party now.