Congress ready to contest all seats in Haryana: Hooda

Parties across Haryana are actively gearing up for Mission 2024 ahead of the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections to be held in the state next year. The Congress party’s Haryana unit has made significant changes to its organisation, the first being the appointment of state in-charge Deepak Babaria on 9 June.

In his first action as state in-charge, Babaria held meetings with several state legislators and later held a two-day-long state-level party meeting. India News’ Vipin Parmar speaks to former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda to ascertain the end result of these meetings.

Q: The party organised a huge gathering and several former Ministers were summoned. This was also the first time that several prominent leaders of the
Congress were seen together at the same forum. What are your takeaways from the meeting?
A: The state in-charge Deepak Babaria met with district-level leaders, Ministers, as well as former and current MLAs in private meetings to take feedback and gather information about the situation in the state. Mr Babaria also met the state leaders to come up with a plan to fill organisational posts which has been pending for a long time.

Q: No one understands Haryana or the Congress party’s politics better than you do. What are the talking points that were given special attention during the meeting and which issues did the party’s leaders unite over?
A: Everyone knows that the current BJP-JJP government is responsible for Haryana lagging behind in all aspects. The reality is that every class is troubled by this and has become alienated as a result. In addition, the state in 2014 was the number one in per capita investment but has now become the number one in unemployment, inflation, and corruption. Crime and addiction have also rapidly increased in the state when this was not the case earlier.

Q: The biggest drawback for the Congress has been in filling up its organisational posts. With the elections fast approaching, how important is this and how long will it take to strengthen the party at the grassroots?
A:The organisation is vital for any party since it is the party’s strength. There has not been an organisation in Haryana for some time now, but it will be formed soon. Before, we had Shakti Singh who laid the groundwork.
Now, it is the hope that the newly-appointed state incharge Babaria will help shape up the party. Not only the in-charge, but the rest of us will also work together to help build up the organisation.

Q: Several things came to the fore during this meeting, especially factionalism. While several leaders deny that it still exists, sloganeering is rampant and several leaders have positioned themselves as the future CM. How will the party then contest the elections as a united front?
A: There is absolutely no factionalism in the Congress. Sloganeering is done by those who have convictions and there is nothing wrong with this. Sloganeering is normal. This only serves as an indicator of the enthusiasm that the party workers have for the party and its cause.

Q: The in-charge has also stated that the face of the party will be chosen in a manner similar to that in Himachal Pradesh. Are you also in agreement with this statement?
A: He has never said such a thing and neither did he refer to Himachal Pradesh. All he has said is that according to the Congress’ process, legislators are consulted, a vote is taken and the high command takes the final decision. Each state has a similar process.

Q: Speculation is rife around the Uchana seat in the state, which has been hotly contested since 1984. Chaudhary Birender Singh and Deputy CM Dushyant Chautala have also made statements about contesting the seat. What do you have to say about this?
A: No matter what decision they take, it is the Congress candidate who will emerge victorious from Uchana.

Q: On 27 June, the state took strict action against narcotics in the state. Huge amounts of narcotics were burnt and the Anti Narcotics Bureau held several meetings to stop the flow of drugs into the state and a framework has been made.What are your thoughts about this?
A: They have made a framework after nine years. There was no issue of addiction in Haryana before this. During these nine years, addiction rates amongst the youth have increased. The government should have taken strict action earlier, burning narcotics will not stop the menace of drug addiction in
the state. This should have been abolished by giving the people meaningful employment. “Chitta” [synthetic drugs] were in circulation in Punjab, the flow of “Chitta” into Haryana is a new development.

Q: The Bharatiya Janata Party has begun its own preparations for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Several former ministers want to contest the elections. How prepared is the Congress to contest all 10 Lok Sabha seats?
A: Congress is ready to contest all 10 seats. We began our preparations much
earlier. We have already held programmes in seven parliamentary constituencies. The eighth will be held in Bhiwani on 9 July. After that, we will focus on Hisar and Rohtak. We have already been engaged in the work, whereas the BJP has become active now. The general public is unhappy with the BJP and feels alienated.