Haryana Assembly Election 2024: As Haryana is in the cusp of casting their votes in the elections that will shortly take place, the air has been filled with political hot air, and leaders from every nook have started speaking of how they would design the future of the state. In one such exercise, ‘Panchayat Aaj Tak’ saw senior Congress leader and Lok Sabha MP Kumari Selja address. The senior leader began talking about political matters, stating how her party would win all the 90 seats in the state.
Congress Looks for Victory in Haryana
In her interaction with Kumari Selja, the Congress party spelt out its intent to take away all 90 assembly seats in Haryana. She admitted that local issues-from crime and drug abuse to essential facilities-provided much of the election’s parlance. Gurugram, the so-called Millennium City, headed the list, with infrastructure still being a major challenge. Selja stated that they bring each rural and urban area’s core of voters with issues of such nature.
Internal Politics and Haryana Assembly Election 2024
Asked whether she felt unhappy about the state of things in Congress in Haryana, the reply from Selja was characteristically firm-a categorical denial. She admitted that discussions do occur within the party, but there is nothing unnatural about that. “The Congress party is moving ahead and the people of Haryana are moving ahead with us,” she said with full conviction that Congress would form the next government in the state.
On the campaign front, Selja said that the party had already begun its outreach process but that the campaigning would be much harsher later on. Selja said candidates were busy with their work in the phase of nomination and this contributed to the delay, albeit partly. However, she eased the people’s anxiety that the party will up the ante as the election draws near.
Ticket Distribution and Internal Politics
On the question of ticket distribution and her candidates not getting a preference, Selja provided a pragmatic view. She said recommendations are common in every election and ultimately depend on several factors, including fate. “Some things happen in every election,” she said, downplaying any friction over ticket allocation.
Selja also claimed she had once wanted to contest from Uklana, her native village, but was diverted to Lok Sabha where she won with a huge margin. Still she said she still craves to do something for Haryana assembly elections and drew attention to the development that has taken place in areas like Narnaund.
Leadership Views and Party Integration
When asked if she wanted to be Chief Minister, Selja was crystal clear that anybody can stake a claim for the top job. She said her earlier comments might have disturbed a few but she stood unconvinced by the belief that political battle is the part of the process whether for oneself, colleagues, or ideology. “If I did not get a ticket in an election, it doesn’t mean that my existence is over,” she said, stressing that her political journey continues.
On this aspect of advocacy by Mayawati for herself, Selja said that Dr. B.R. Ambedkar is a pan-Indian figure whom all sections of society appreciate. She articulated her disapproval over the limitation of Ambedkar’s legacy to one community and went on stating that, in her reckoning, she has come up in politics on the platform of Congress, and not on the support from any other political entity.
Debunking Stories of Crossing Over to BJP
There were rumors of Kumari Selja merging into the BJP. Such malicious allegations made by various sections she altogether rejected as baseless saying, “Shailja can never think like this”, declaring that Congress runs in her blood. She aptly compared herself to the political legacy of her father and said that just like her father’s body was covered under Congress tricolor, so would she be with the party throughout life.
Bipartisanship between Congress BJP and Challenges
Selja also reacted sharply against the BJP, terming it as spreading false and misconceptions over her political future. She explained that BJP leader had no major issues in the field and were instead manufacturing issues. Selja also took the opportunity to reflect on what she considers the BJP’s waning clout both at the national level as well as in Haryana.
When asked about her relationship with senior Congress leader Bhupendra Hooda, Selja played down the tensions. She accepted that the forte of politics is a degree of self-projection but said there was no scant respect within the party.
Thoughts on the AAP Alliance
Finally, Selja briefly mentioned Congress’s unsuccessful alliance talks with the AAP in Haryana. She accepted that she was not one of the immediate participants in the talks but then intimated that AAP could play no substantive role in the state and therefore the failed talks.
So, in short, the Kumari Selja visit to ‘Panchayat Aaj Tak’ threw open the doors of different strategies of the Congress party towards Haryana elections and their political journey as an individual as well as loyalty towards the party amidst talks and rumors. Her remarks in the election season speak loudly of increasing political battle which will be closely contested in the state.
