Newly appointed Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC) president Ashok Tanwar formally assumed charge on Friday and claimed that there was no factionalism in the State unit of the party.
The AICC general secretary in-charge of the State, Shakeel Ahmad, Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and former Haryana Congress President Phool Chand Mullana were present when Tanwar took charge.
Asking party workers to resolve their differences, if any, through dialogue, Tanwar said there was need to make collective efforts to strengthen the party ahead of lok Sabha and Assembly elections this year.
“I think, we should sit together to resolve problems, if any, through dialogue,” he said, after cutting a cake amid his supporters, who also garlanded him at Haryana Congress Bhavan.
Even as Tanwar spoke about unity, the faction opposed to Hooda in State politics — former Union Minister Selja and former AICC general secretary Birender Singh were conspicuous by their absence along with the legislators who are their camp followers.
“Those who could not make it may be busy due to Guru Ravidas Jayanti. The parliamentary session is also going on and due to the party whip, MPs didn’t come. All absentees have assured me of their support,” said Tanwar.
The MP from Sirsa said his first priority would be to strengthen the Congress in the State and said he saw his appointment as a challenge. “My priority would be to strengthen the party with collective leadership of experienced leaders and youth,” added Tanwar.
The 38-year-old Tanwar, a former President of the NSUI and the Indian Youth Congress was appointed earlier this week to replace Mullana ahead of the parliamentary and Assembly polls this year.