Chandigarh: Bhupinder Singh Hooda, the two-time former chief minister of Haryana, virtually sounded the bugle of revolt, saying that the Congress has “gone astray” and setting up a 25-member committee to decide on his future course of action.
In doing so, Hooda stopped short of announcing a new party, as was being speculated, but his tone and tenor suggested that he wouldn’t settle for anything less than the post of the state Congress chief and the party’s chief ministerial candidate. Hooda announced that he would appoint four deputy CMs representing backward classes, Dalits, Brahmins and others. He also took upon himself to lead the charge against the BJP in the elections, announcing his “personal manifesto” during the rally.
Addressing a huge rally he organised in Rohtak, Hooda said today’s Congress was “in no way like the earlier Congress”. He also supported the Narendra Modi-led NDA government’s move to abrogate Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, which goes against the stand taken by the party high command.
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Several strong messages to the Congress
It was speculated before Hooda’s ‘Parivartan Maha Rally‘ that he would break away from the Congress and form his own political outfit. And though he did stop short of that, Hooda sent several strong messages to the Congress Sunday.
“I belong to a family of Congressmen. My grandfather was a freedom fighter and so was my father,” Hooda said at the rally. “I have come to address you free of all shackles.”
In support of the abrogation of Article 370 by the BJP, he said: “If the government does something right, I will support it because I too am a nationalist. However, if the BJP government in Haryana thinks that it can gather votes on this account, it is mistaken.”
Hooda was clearly buoyed by the massive attendance at the rally despite inclement weather, and exuded confidence and faith in his own strength. He declared that he would fight the electoral battle uncompromisingly till the end.
While he refrained from attacking any individual leader of the Congress, his remark that the party had gone astray (bhatak gayi hai) drew the maximum applause from the crowd.
All options open
With this show of strength, Hooda made it clear that he remains the most popular Congress leader in Haryana, if not the only state Congress leader with a truly mass following. He has the unstinted support of 13 of the 15 Congress MLAs in the assembly, all of whom have been made a part of his committee of advisers. He said he would announce all 25 members shortly in Chandigarh.
Eschewing individualism, he also said he would follow and abide by the decision taken by this committee, which, among other things, is expected to help him decide whether to continue his association with the Congress or not.
It is clear that Hooda has decided to keep all his options open for the elections. Sources close to Hooda say he does not want to leave the Congress, but is extremely upset with the manner in which the party has treated him in the past five years. The reins of the party in the state remain with his bête noire, Ashok Tanwar.
Sources said the party’s in-charge for Haryana, Ghulam Nabi Azad, had met Hooda Saturday night to persuade him not to leave the party.
Hooda’s recent meeting with Nationalist Congress Party leaders in Delhi had further fuelled speculation about his leaving the party.
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They don’t work, just want to use Cong and Gandhi name to be in power. Now out of power they feel nervous, want to run away instead of taking on ruling party for wrong policies. Just now I was hearing debate on current state of Economy small businesses are struggling. Because of weak and disunited opposition, BJP managed to get majority. Let the dead woods go, even if Cong don’t win let it be, but first get rid of power greedy leaders.
Hope you are the poll consultant for Congis. BJP is future is brighter.
BJP exceeded the combined totals of opposition contestants in many constituencies. In many constituencies where BJP lost, it was very close second. Keep up the good work, maintain your attitude please.
Seriously? Gandhi name. Something that didn’t work for the Gandhi himself in his pocket borough Amethi.
Congress “going astray” is an understatement. RaGa, Lashkar e Taiba, P Chidambaram, Jaish e Mohammed, Priyanka all seem to be one voice united in support of Pakistan.
It is extremely unlikely Congis will win any state elections coming soon.
Congress is a thing of the past, any indian that supports pakis also support gives voice and support to their terrorism against India, these people needs to be put into mandatory mental rehab camp at the minimum to start.