The Congress is fighting an internal battle for factional superiority in Haryana as Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and PCC president Ashok Tanwar are at loggerheads for several seats in the State. Both were lobbying for their camp followers resulting in an unusual delay in announcement of the tickets for the Assembly polls.
When he could not have his way, on Wednesday, Tanwar expressed his resentment over ticket distribution. “I am ready to work as an ordinary party worker, I have no interest in any post,” he said. Sources said that he had offered to resign from the post but later senior leaders managed to convince the annoyed State Congress president in New Delhi.
According to sources, the differences between both the leaders are not new as both wanted the maximum of their camp followers as party candidates in the Assembly polls. They say, this was a tussle between the old guard and the new generation of leaders.
Hooda, being the Chief Minister, enjoys the support of the old guard of the party. Tanwar, being young and close to Rahul Gandhi, was appointed as president of Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee by replacing Hooda’s loyalist Phool chand Mullana before the last general elections.
The infighting between the two ignited last week when Tanwar suggested 15 names as probable candidates for the Assembly polls in Haryana but Hooda was not interested to give him more than seven seats. After interference of some senior leaders, Tanwar agreed for 10-12 seats but it was also not acceptable to Hooda.
However, Tanwar who had seen the humiliating defeat of the party in the lok Sabha polls under the leadership of Hooda in which party had lost nine out of ten seats, seemed reluctant in clearing the names of tainted leaders, who had direct support of Hooda.
Some Hooda loyalist including Sharda Rathaur, Chief Parliamentary Secretary and MlA from Ballabhgarh and Bharat Singh Beniwal former MlA from Ellenabad had alleged that Tanwar intentionally had cut their tickets.
Similarly, Tanwar who was interested to give tickets to former MP and daughter of cabinet minister Kiran Chaudhary, Shruti Chaudhary from loharu and Jai Prakash from Kalayat Assembly constituencies had faced resentment from Hooda.
Due to the infighting between the two leaders, the announcement of the tickets has been delayed even as the last date of nomination is September 27. PC Chacko, chairman of the Congress screening committee, however, confirmed on Wednesday that their list of candidates is final and could be released any time.