Crack in Congress ship: Kumari Selja criticises Bhupinder Singh Hooda
Hooda’s choice of candidates had led to the party’s debacle
New Delhi: After the rout, resentment against the party leadership as well as factionalism has surfaced in the Congress. Senior Haryana leader Kumari Selja on Monday blamed former CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda for the debacle, as reports of resentment against the leadership in Karnataka reached the AICC. Trouble is also brewing for the high command with Ajit Jogi in Chhattisgarh sending signals that he may quit and float a new party if he is not made the PCC chief.
Despite the clamour on the streets for a bigger role in the party for Priyanka Gandhi, there is little likelihood of her taking over the reins from her brother Rahul, who stands completely discredited. At this juncture, the Congress leadership appears clueless on how to take on the might of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Former Union minister Kumari Selja on Monday directly blamed Mr Hooda for the Congress’ dismal performance in Haryana. She said that the former CM should take “complete responsibility” as he had “enjoyed absolute power for the past few years”.
She said that Mr Hooda’s choice of candidates had led to the party’s debacle. There was some speculation that she might have been fielded by the high command to discredit the Haryana leadership as Ms Selja told a TV channel neither Congress president Sonia Gandhi nor her son Rahul could be blamed for the party’s rout in Haryana. She felt that they (Sonia and Rahul) were “too democratic” to interfere in the state’s affairs.