In the Congress, the party has given more than two-thirds of the tickets to candidates recommended by former chief minister Bhupender Hooda. But it is Congress MP from Sirsa, Kumari Selja, and the party’s Rajya Sabha MP, Randeep Surjewala, who have expressed their desire to lead Haryana if Congress comes to power. However, neither Selja nor Surjewala is contesting the assembly polls, while Hooda is contesting.
The story is the same in the BJP as well where the party has already made it clear that it will go for elections under the leadership of sitting chief minister Nayab Saini.
But Rao Inderjit Singh, Union Minister, and former state Cabinet Minister Anil Vij have indicated their desire to lead Haryana, if BJP comes to power.Singh enjoys a lot of influence in Ahirwal region. And Vij, who is contesting from Ambala, was dropped from the Haryana cabinet when the party replaced ML Khattar with Saini.
Party insiders in both BJP and Congress also feel that these leaders are making with these statements with the knowledge of their respective party high commands.
In Congress, Selja is the Dalit face while Surjewala enjoys influence in and around Kaithal, a stronghold of the Devi Lal clan. So, the party insiders feel these leaders can galvanise their workers.
Similarly in BJP, Inderjit is Ahir and Vij is Punjabi — two castes which together can sway more than 20 assembly seats. So, through these statements, the BJP is eyeing to further consolidate its hold in these two caste segment.
