Congress Grapples with Internal Disagreements Ahead of Haryana Elections

Will the Congress party secure victory in the 2024 Haryana Assembly elections? This will be determined after the voting on October 5 and the subsequent counting of votes on October 8.

Of the 90 seats in the Haryana Assembly, candidates for 41 seats have already been announced, and the remaining 49 are expected to be declared soon.

Following the announcement of the initial candidates, some members expressed dissatisfaction and chose to leave the party, joining others. This suggests that internal differences might challenge Congress’s efforts to return to power in Haryana after a decade.

In Sadhaura, the nomination of Renu Bala led to Brijpal and Pinki Chappar’s departure. In Nilokheri, former Minister Ramkumar Valmiki opted to run as an independent candidate. Prem Hingakhedi expressed concern over Ramkaran Kala’s nomination in Shahbad. In Baroda, Jitendra Hooda might run independently due to Induraj Singh Narwal’s ticket, while Dr. Kapoor Narwal also left the party in response. In Julana, leaders like Parminder Singh Dhul were unhappy with Vinesh Phogat’s nomination.

In a recent interview, Kumari Shailaja openly questioned Bhupinder Singh Hooda’s influence, mentioning her own potential candidacy for Chief Minister. During her campaign, Shailaja remarked that party workers often refer to her as CM.

The ongoing differences between Bhupinder Singh Hooda, the former CM, and Congress General Secretary Kumari Shailaja have become noticeable, with both leaders expressing their ambitions for the top post. Congress, after its alliance talks with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) did not progress, announced two candidate lists in early September 2024, including 28 sitting MLAs.

According to reports, Bhupinder Singh Hooda’s influence is evident in the candidate selections, with 28 out of the 32 candidates from the first list being aligned with his faction, and four from Shailaja’s.

Congress’s Position in the Haryana Elections
In both the 2014 and 2019 Haryana Assembly elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) emerged victorious, forming the government. Congress, having been out of power for the last decade, won 31 seats in the 2019 elections, while the BJP secured 40 seats and formed a coalition with the Jannayak Janata Party (JJP).

Although Congress sought an alliance with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for the upcoming elections, the deal fell through due to disagreements over seat allocation. As a result, Congress will contest all 90 seats independently, despite Rahul Gandhi’s earlier push for an alliance.

With internal divisions and resignations surfacing, the Congress party faces significant hurdles. How well it navigates these challenges and presents a unified message to voters will likely shape its performance in the upcoming election.

Source: https://www.oneindia.com/india/factionalism-rocks-congress-party-as-haryana-elections-near-011-3933515.html