Amid speculation of a possible change of guard in Haryana Congress which is struggling due to factionalism, former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda on Wednesday met Congress chief Sonia Gandhi in New Delhi.
The two-time former Haryana Chief Minister was accompanied by his son, Rohtak MP Deepender Singh Hooda during the meeting which continued for about half an hour at Sonia Gandhi’s residence 10 Janpath.
The meeting between Hooda and Sonia comes as demand for a change of State leadership is gaining ground in the Congress.
loyalists of former CM Hooda have already been demanding ouster of State Congress chief Ashok Tanwar, who has been at loggerheads with the former since the State Assembly polls in 2014. The feud between the two leaders had escalated after the party workers clash in New Delhi last year where Tanwar had sustained injuries and blamed Hooda for the attack.
With factional feud between Hooda and Tanwar continuing to simmer even after the directives from party’s high command to stay united, both the leaders have been holding “separate” party functions and agitations to raise various issues.
Hooda loyalists, which include 12 MlAs out of total 17 and senior party leaders in Haryana have also demanded removal of Kiran Choudhry, from the post of ClP leader.
During the meeting with Sonia Gandhi, Hooda apprized her about the current political scenario in the state and “kisan panchayats” being held by him across the state to raise the issues of farmers.
Hooda, while talking to a section of media after Wednesday’s meeting said that they have apprized the Congress chief about the kisan panchayats and held discussion on the current political situation in Haryana.
At present, Hooda is facing investigations in several land scams initiated by the current BJP led Haryana Government.
To raise farmers’ issues, the former CM is holding “kisan panchayats”, an event that has virtually turned into a show of strength. While Hooda is holding “kisan panchayats” in various parts of the state, a mega rally for farmers have also been planned to be organized later this year.
To make the farmers rally a successful party affair, Hooda has been making all out efforts to ensure presence of senior national leaders at the event.
Sources said that former Haryana Chief Minister Bhajan lal’s son Kuldeep Bishnoi also met Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday.
Though there is no official word on what transpired in the meeting between the two leaders in New Delhi, it is learnt that Bishnoi is likely to get a key role in Haryana Congress after a possible reshuffle in the state party unit in the coming days.
In May, Kuldeep Bishnoi and his wife Renuka Bishnoi had met Congress chief Sonia Gandhi. Both are members of the state Assembly. Kuldeep Bishnoi had last year merged Haryana Janhit Congress (HJC) with the Congress.
It is learnt that former CM Hooda, AICC spokesman and MlA Randeep Surjewala, Kuldeep Bishnoi are likely to get major roles in the state party unit after reshuffling. The current State party chief Ashok Tanwar, who is said to be closer to Rahul Gandhi is likely to be given higher responsibility in the Congress.