Newly appointed Haryana Congress president Ashok Tanwar on Tuesday said the party is watching the activities of its MlA from Ambala city, Venod Sharma, and take into account his prolonged absence from Congress functions.
Talking to media persons, Tanwar said that though formally, the party had no knowledge about Sharma’s political plans or his annoyance but has notices reports in the media. Sharma, a close confidante of Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda has been missing from party related activities, since the name of former Union Minister Kumari Selja was approved by the Congress high command for Rajya Sabha seat from the State.
Thereafter, he had not only resigned from the chairmanship of state election campaign committee but also abstained from the meeting held at Chandigarh. He also not attended the first general body meeting of the party on March 3 at Chandigarh, called by Tanwar after becoming State Congress president. General secretary of AICC and in-charge of Haryana Congress affairs, Shakeel Ahmad, State Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and all MlAs were present in the meeting.
Asked about any communication from Sharma, Tanwar said he has not received any. Sources said that Sharma is in touch with senior BJP leaders and could join the party soon. He had met BJP chief Rajnath Singh few days ago. Tanwar said that no indiscipline would be tolerated in the party. “I am not person, who would bend in front of the circumstances like others,” he warned those who are working at cross purposes against the party line.
The Haryana Congress president said, “I have proposed a discipline committee to the high command which would get approval soon. Every person who is not working in discipline would be taken in to account.” he said. Tanwar took the decision to constitute a discipline committee after noticing the absence of almost all members of Parliament except one MP Birender Singh from Rajya Sabha in the first general body meeting at Chandigarh on March 3.
Meanwhile, Congress is expected to release the list of candidates from Haryana for lok Sabha elections on March 7. Tanwar said the party will give more representation to youth and women candidates.