Dinesh Bhardwaj/Trinew
Chandigarh, August 7
Rahul Gandhi has taken strong notice of the factionalism going on among the Haryana Congress leaders. He bluntly told the leaders, everyone should go together. Don’t be over-confident. Victory will be achieved only if we work on the ground. Everything is not that simple either. Everyone will have to walk together and keep a close watch on anti party activities. Deepak Babaria, in-charge of Haryana affairs, has also been asked to set such an example in Haryana so that those who indulge in indiscipline can get a tough lesson.
This meeting was held at 24 Akbar Road (Congress Headquarters) in New Delhi on Monday under the chairmanship of Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge regarding preparations for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Apart from Rahul Gandhi, organization general secretary KC Venugopal and in-charge of Haryana affairs Deepak Babaria were present in the meeting. In the meeting, the leaders of Hooda and anti-Hooda camp also made allegations of factionalism. Along with this, questions were also raised on the state leadership.
Apart from the restoration of Rahul Gandhi’s membership of Parliament, most of the leaders kept congratulating and praising his ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ and ‘Hath Se Hath Jodo’ campaign. Rahul has clearly told the leaders of the state Congress that if any leader has a problem, then keep your point on the party platform. No need to go to the media. Those who do this will be dealt with strictly.
It is said that Rahul Gandhi has even said in the meeting that if the election is to be won, not only will all the leaders have to walk together, but all sections of people will also have to walk together. No one will benefit from a particular class. It is believed that the way the leaders were called in Monday’s meeting, the party was giving the message of the leadership of 36 fraternities. A total of 43 leaders from the state were invited for the meeting. Among them, former Union Minister Kumari Selja and National Secretary Virendra Rathore could not reach the meeting. Former CM and Leader of Opposition Bhupinder Singh Hooda said that the atmosphere in Haryana is in favor of the Congress. State President Chow Udaybhan said that the party will win all the ten seats in the Lok Sabha. National General Secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala said that the people of all the societies will have to be taken along, only then the party will be able to come to power. Rajya Sabha MP Deepender Hooda kept the survey related to Haryana in the meeting and claimed that there is a tremendous wave in favor of the party in the state. Former Speaker Kuldeep Sharma spoke for the longest time and presented his entire speech in English before the party leadership.
Organization will be formed in September
In the meeting, most of the leaders including the State President raised the issue of organization formation. On this, Rahul told KC Venugopal that the work of the organization should be completed in August itself. After this, on the report of the in-charge, Venugopal said that the first list will be issued by 10 September. By the end of September, a complete organization will be set up in the state. When the state president mentioned the list sent from Haryana, Rahul said, Mallikarjun Kharge is the national president and it is the PCC’s job to decide the state organization. Kharge said, if we send the correct list, we will issue it immediately. Organization has been formed in other states also, what is the problem in Haryana.
Anti Hooda camp raised questions
Sources say that the leaders of the Anti Hooda camp raised questions on the state leadership in the meeting. He said that everyone has to be taken along. One particular class will not work. Leaders of the Hooda camp said that under the leadership of Hooda and Udaybhan, more than two dozen ex-ministers-former MLAs have joined the Congress. Kiran Chowdhary said that most of those coming from other parties are those who have retired. When such people will go to other parties, nothing is known. On the other hand, Sonipat MLA Surendra Panwar said, leaders never retire. Leaders coming to Congress from other parties should get respect. Working State President Ramkishan Gurjar and Suresh Gupta said that one society will not work. Similarly, National Secretary Chetan Chauhan also raised the issue of factionalism. Working State President Shruti Chaudhary said that talking to one man will not work. All faces should be visible in the party. Leadership should take everyone along.
These leaders were present: In-charge Deepak Babiraya had called and invited a total of 43 leaders for this meeting. National General Secretary and in-charge of Chhattisgarh Kumari Selja could not attend the meeting as she was out. Babariya informed about this in the meeting. At the same time, National Secretary Virendra Rathore also could not reach. Leading organizations of the party – Seva Dal, Mahila Congress, Youth Congress and NSUI – were not invited to the meeting. State President Chow Udaybhan, Former CM Bhupendra Singh Hooda, National General Secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala, MP Deepender Hooda, Kiran Chaudhary, Phoolchand Mullana, Dharampal Singh Malik, Kuldeep Sharma, Harmohindra Singh Chatha, Ashok Arora, Dr. Raghubir Singh Kadian, Mahendra Pratap Singh, Capt. Ajay Yadav, Aftab Ahmed, Bharat Bhushan Batra, Jayprakash ‘JP’, Chandramohan Bishnoi, Geeta Bhukkal, Rao Dan Singh, Shakuntala Khatak, Jaiveer Valmiki, Bishanlal Saini, Kuldeep Vats, Neeraj Sharma, Ramkishan Gurjar, Shamsher Singh Gogi, Sardar Jarnail Singh , Bajrang Das Garg, Harpal Singh, Suresh Gupta, Surendra Panwar, Chandraprakash, Amit Yadav, Shruti Chowdhary, Jitendra Bhardwaj, Chetan Chauhan, Pradeep Narwal, Ashish Dua, Vineet Poonia and Colonel (retd) Rohit Chowdhary were present in the meeting.
Tickets will be available on the basis of survey
The issue of leaders coming from other parties also came up for discussion in the meeting. The issue also arose that candidates are already being declared in the constituencies. It is said that on this the leadership was told bluntly that the quota system will not work in ticket allotment. There will be a proper survey for the candidates and only winnable and strong faces will be fielded. Mahendergarh MLA Rao Dan Singh said that tickets should not be given on the basis of choice but on merit. Rahul Gandhi said, going among the public only at the time of elections will not work. One has to stay among the people, only then the party will be strong. Badli MLA Kuldeep Vats said that the party can win 80 out of 90 seats in the assembly if the mutual statements of the leaders in the state stop.
