Ganesh Kendale
NEW DELHI: Amid the reports of a rift in the Haryana Congress, the party’s Lok Sabha MP Kumari Selja has asserted her position as a potential candidate for the chief minister’s post in Haryana, should the Congress emerge victorious in the upcoming assembly elections.
In an interview with news agency ANI, Selja said that while the final decision rests with the party high command, her seniority, and contributions cannot be overlooked.
“See, that only high command will have to answer, they will only decide. There are a few people who would be in the consideration zone, and I think Selja would be there. Seniority mein, kaam mein, in sab cheezon mein nam aur politics aur ye political decisions ye toh high command dekhega (the high command would look at the seniority, work done, and everything else. These political decisions would be taken by high command,” Selja said during the interview when asked whether she is in the race for Haryana CM post.
“Toh aise mein Selja ko high command nazarandaaz toh nahi karega (So the party high command can’t ignore Selja),” she added.
Responding to Selja’s comment on Haryana CM pick, Congress MP Deepender Hooda said, “This is the process in Congress party. Nothing is wrong with this. High command decides that.”
During her interview, Selja also dismissed rumours of her joining the Bharatiya Janata Party, which had surfaced during the election campaign when some BJP leaders suggested that the Congress was not giving her due respect. “Selja will not go anywhere, why would Selja go? In Delhi a lot of rumours get circulated, Delhi is different like that but the people in my region know me well,” she said.
Selja also expressed confidence in the Congress party’s performance in the Haryana assembly elections, saying, “Congress is in a good position. A lot of hard work went in, Rahul Gandhi himself worked hard. Priyanka Gandhi also came here, the Congress president also came here. What started with the Yatra of Rahul Gandhi made a lot of difference in the state.”
Haryana will go to the polls on October 5 to elect its 90-member state legislative assembly, with counting set to take place on October 8. In the 2019 elections, the BJP emerged as the single largest party, securing 40 seats, while Congress won 30 seats.
