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In the aftermath of the recent assembly elections in Haryana, significant internal tensions within the Congress party have surfaced. Notably, key leaders Kumari Selja and Randeep Surjewala were conspicuously absent from a crucial meeting led by former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, which aimed to review the party’s disappointing performance in the elections held earlier this month(
Kumari Selja, a prominent Dalit face in Congress and AICC general secretary, has reportedly been dissatisfied with the ticket distribution strategy employed by the party, which heavily favored Hooda’s faction. This dissatisfaction is further exacerbated by a recent casteist incident involving a Congress worker, which highlighted the growing rifts within the party(
mint). Selja, who has a strong support base among Dalit voters, was last seen actively campaigning for her candidates prior to the elections. Her absence from the meeting has raised questions about her commitment to the party’s collective strategies(
Despite the fractures in party unity, Congress leaders are aware of the importance of collaboration as they face mounting pressure from rival parties, particularly the ruling BJP. The party must navigate the complex dynamics of Haryana’s electorate, where Dalit votes constitute approximately 20% of the total. With the increasing alliance of the Bahujan Samaj Party with other local parties, Congress cannot afford to alienate any of its key leaders(
The meeting held on October 10, 2024, was crucial for strategizing the way forward, and leaders are hopeful that they can resolve their differences ahead of the upcoming political challenges. Congress’s ability to present a united front will be pivotal in regaining lost ground in Haryana, especially given the electoral significance of the Dalit and Jat communities(
