Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday met with leaders from Haryana where Assembly elections are scheduled around October this year.

Neither the Congress leaders who met Mr. Gandhi spoke to the media nor did the party issue a press statement.

Mr. Gandhi, however, is learnt to have told them that he is no longer the Congress president and would not make major decisions like changing the State leadership in poll-bound Haryana.

But he is said to have spoken his mind on the results. When All India Congress Committee (AICC) in- charge for Haryana, Ghulam Nabi Azad, submitted a report on the Lok Sabha polls, Mr. Gandhi expressed his visible dissapointment. But district level and booth level changes are expected soon.

Among those who attended the meeting included former Chief Minister Bhupender Singh Hooda, Haryana Congress chief Ashok Tanwar, senior leaders Kumari Selja, Capt Ajay Yadav, Congress Treasurer Ahmed Patel and general secretary K.C. Venugopal.

Prominent leaders who were not in attendance included Randeep Surjewala, Kiran Chaudhary and Kuldeep Bishnoi.
Supporters of former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupender Singh Hooda want the Congress to make the chief of Haryana Congress and blame the current Haryana chief, Ashok Tanwar, for debacle.

The State where the Congress got wiped out, losing all the 10 Lok Sabha seats is witnessing an intense factional fight between these two factions. At a recent meeting, chaired by Mr. Azad, leaders of the rival factions nearly came to blows.

But with Mr. Gandhi insisting on stepping down as the Congress chief, the party may not go for any drastic changes at the top ahead of elections. A source told The Hindu that Mr Gandhi directed the State leadership to work unitedly and strengthen its presence at the booth level.

Mr. Gandhi was also scheduled to meet leaders from Maharashtra as well but has now postponed until Saturday. He will also be meeting Delhi leaders on Friday to assess the political situation as Assembly elections are likely by next February.