A day after Power Minister Ajay Singh Yadav resigned from his Cabinet saying the leadership has failed to learn lessons from the lok Sabha election debacle, Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda on Wednesday hit back at his detractors within his party, claiming that “vested interests” were driving their action, but Congress remained strong in the State.

Talking to media persons after chairing a Cabinet meeting, Hooda, who has come under increasing attack from his detractors in the election year, sought to play down Yadav’s resignation issue.

“I have got his resignation and I have asked him to reconsider it. I am waiting for his answer,” Hooda said, adding that the six-time Congress MlA from Rewari had not given any reason in his resignation letter.

On Wednesday, Yadav had resigned from the Hooda ministry and also alleged "bias" in several matters including recruitment and induction of members to various commissions and statutory bodies.

“Whatever, I had to say, I have said it,” Hooda replied when asked that Yadav, a prominent leader from south Haryana, had alleged regional bias in development works.

To another question that there was a section of party leaders who feel that the Chief Minister has become “autocratic” in his functioning, Hooda said, “I am hearing this from you, I have not heard this from anyone else so far”.

He then added, “No one (party leader) is unhappy because of me, they (detractors) may say so because of their vested interest. They may be finding excuses, but I have cooperated with everyone”.

In a veiled dig at Ajay Yadav, he said, “Today on the eve of elections if someone says so (levels allegations), you can well understand.”

When asked that Yadav has alleged that he was treated just like a “rubber stamp” and felt “powerless”, Hooda said “what he says tomorrow, wait for that. Yesterday is gone and wait for tomorrow”, indicating that party was trying to reach out to Yadav in a bid to persuade him to reconsider his decision.

To another question, he refuted that there was any “political upheaval” in the State unit of the party. “There is no such thing in the party, only some individuals may have vested interests”.

Asked that there were reports that many were waiting to desert the Congress including senior leader Birender Singh, who met BJP chief Amit Shah on Wednesday, the Chief Minister said that in a democratic set up one was free to pursue their wish.

About Birender’s meeting with Amit Shah, he said, “I have not talked to him. That is up to him (if he decides to leave the party)”.  He, however, said that “Congress is strong; Congress is not going to defect, let’s see who is going to defect”.

On a number of senior leaders including Rao Inderjit having deserted the party in recent times, Hooda said that Rao too was guided by “vested interests, which was proved when he got ticket from BJP.”

When asked if his Cabinet Minister Kiran Choudhary may also resign from the Cabinet, Hooda said, “There is no such thing. She is very much in the Congress and today I am going to attend a function at Bhiwani, in which she will also be present”.

The Chief Minister asserted that there has been inclusive growth in the State. “Anywhere you see, there has been inclusive and all-round development. This is no issue. But after ten years if someone sees that development has not taken place, it is because that person may have vested interests”.

Meanwhile, responding to concerns raised by senior IAS officer Pradeep Kasni over administering of oath to the information commissioners by the Chief Minister, he said, “as far as administering oath to the information commissioners is concerned, that is all legal and constitutional. Due process has been followed and there are no irregularities in this.”

“There has been no haste. We had started process in the beginning of the year by following due process,” he said when asked that opposition has alleged that undue haste had been shown by the Government in administering oath to the information commissioners on Sunday.

Asked why the oath of the commissioners had been done in a hush-hush manner and even media was kept out, Hooda replied, “I never invite anybody. May be press people may have been busy with Governor’s oath taking function. I will ensure when next such function is held, media is invited”.

To a question about alleged objectionable SMS from Chief Secretary S C Choudhary to Pradeep Kasni, Hooda said, “that is between two friends and I have got nothing to do with the issue. You ask the Chief Secretary, but I think he has already answered this. Whatever, two persons exchange, how am I concerned.”

On contesting Assembly elections from Indri constituency, Hooda said I never commit to contest from that constituency, rather I only assured them that if 19 applicants from that constituency want me to contest from that constituency, I would be ready. “Moreover this is the constituency, from where I got my schooling, hence I have special attachment to this place”, said Hooda.