The tension between Hooda and Selja in Haryana could further strain the Congress
The Congress is making all efforts to end its exodus from power in Haryana, but internal rifts within the party have become its biggest drag. Bhupendra Singh Hooda and his son Dipendra Hooda are seen in full active mode, while Randeep Surjewala and Chaudhary Birendra Singh sit in their respective sons’ seats. Dalit face of Congress and MP Kumari Selja is keeping herself away from election campaign. She is neither seen holding any public meetings nor is she active on social media. In such a situation, Shelja’s silence is increasing Bhupendra Hooda’s anxiety. Will this political conflict spoil the Congress game?
The pair of Kumari Selja and Bhupendra Singh were marginally successful in the 2019 assembly elections and then in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. While Hooda was a Jat, Selja managed to add dalit votes in favor of the Congress. The Congress is looking to return to power in Haryana due to the combination of Jat-Dalit votes, but Selja has kept his distance from the assembly polls, which is putting the matter in jeopardy. Shelja neither appeared during the release of the Congress manifesto nor is campaigning now.
Selja, the biggest Dalit face
Sirsa MP Kumari Selja is the biggest Dalit face of Congress in Haryana. Dalits constitute about 20 percent of the electorate in Haryana. 17 of the total 90 assembly seats are reserved for the Dalit community, but the political influence is far greater than that. The distribution of tickets for the assembly elections has only focused on the Hooda camp and Kumari Selja has managed to get tickets to only 8 to 10 leaders close to her.
Kumari Selja has been silent since the Congress announced the final list of tickets in Haryana on September 12, the last day of nominations. Following this, Selja is believed to have been offended by comments made towards supporters of the Hooda camp. Due to which he has distanced himself from the election campaign.
Selja is not participating in the election campaign
With only 15 days left for polling in the Haryana assembly elections, Kumari Selja has not reached any seat to campaign. Selja’s silence has raised tension in the party these days and increased uneasiness in the Hooda camp, as his silence could hurt the Congress and alienate the Hooda camp from its quest for power. Sensing the urgency of the moment, Hooda has started doing damage control, saying that the comments made on Selja have been manipulated.
Calling Kumari Selja as his sister, Hooda said that she is a respected Congress leader. No Congress leader or worker can make any wrong comments about him. If anyone makes any wrong comments about Kumari Shelja, he has no place in Congress party. He said that today everyone has a mobile phone and anyone can be manipulated into doing anything, but such mentality has no place in society or politics. Opposition parties are deliberately conspiring.
The silence for the Congress is a cause for concern
SP is dreaming of returning Congress to power in Haryana, with expectations running high after winning 5 seats in the Lok Sabha elections. In such a situation, Selja’s silence is causing concern for the Congress. The political rivalry between Kumari Selja and Hooda is also well known. Similarly, Randeep Surejwala is also considered to belong to the anti-HUDA group. If the same battle continues in the Congress, the hopes of returning to power in the state may be eclipsed, as the leaders of each other’s factions will be seen defeating each other instead of winning each other.
Kumari Selja’s distancing from the election campaign may also fuel resentment among the Dalit community. Dalit voters have the power to make or break the game of any party in the state. 17 assembly seats are reserved for Dalit community, where Dalits are in majority. While the Dalit community plays an important role in 35 assembly seats. Selja is the biggest Dalit face of Congress and his silence will not send the right message to Dalit votes.
The pair of Hooda-Sailja clashed
Congress is completely dependent on Jat and Dalit votes to return to power in Haryana. Jats constitute about 28 percent and Dalits 21 percent. Thus Congress is working with the target of adding 50 percent vote bank. Ever since BJP started anti-Jat politics in Haryana, Congress has started equating Dalits with Jats. According to this equation, Bhupendra Singh Hooda has been made the supreme leader of the party. Along with him, Dalit leader Chaudhary Udaybhan has been made the state president. Apart from this, Kumari Selja is also the Dalit face of Congress in Haryana.
In the 2019 assembly elections, the Congress gave a strong fight to the BJP on the strength of the pair of Hooda and Selja. In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Congress has managed to win 5 out of 10 seats in Haryana solely on the basis of Dalit-Jat votes. In the picture seen so far, the Congress is trying to solve the Dalit equation. Dalit voters were leaning towards Congress in the Lok Sabha elections. Congress and its allies have received Dalit votes across the country amid clamor for constitutional protection and reservation, but Selja’s displeasure is now a cause for concern for the Congress itself.
