Hry CLP leadership rests on high command as no decision in meet

Chandigarh: The Haryana Congress remains in limbo over its next chief of legislature party, since the decision rests with the party’s high command and it will take that after three observers, tasked with gathering feedback from the party’s legislators, submit their report.
The appointed observers — former Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot, Congress general secretary Ajay Maken, and T S Singh Deo — met with all the 37 Congress MLAs on Friday at the Haryana Congress office in Chandigarh.Panchkula legislator Chander Mohan was first to arrive, followed by the other members by 3 pm, and their late arrival delayed the meeting by more than an hour. State Congress president Udai Bhan and Punjab’s leader of opposition Partap Singh Bajwa also attended.
After a brief group discussion on the party’s mandate, the observers held one-on-one meetings with each MLA. The session concluded by 6 pm without much media interaction, as the MLAs and observers left the premises. Several MLAs indicated that they had shared their preferences with the observers, leaving the final decision to the high command. The Congress holds 37 seats in the 90-member Haryana assembly, with 32 of the party’s legislators aligned with former CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda. One MLA, Aditya Surjewala, is son of Rajya Sabha MP Randeep Surjewala, while four others are associated with Lok Sabha MP Kumari Selja. Sources suggest that Hooda’s camp had backed him to continue as state Congress legislature party (CLP) leader for the next five years. Earlier this week, the 32 Hooda loyalist Congress MLAs had gathered at his Delhi house reportedly to express their support. Friday’s meeting was for forming a strategy for the coming assembly session. Notable absentees included three prominent MPs — Deepender Hooda, Jai Parkash, and Varun Choudhary.