After 2-week hiatus, Kumari Selja to campaign from today

Sirsa MP Kumari Selja, missing from the campaigning for about two weeks, will participate in four public meetings tomorrow.

She will be present during Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi’s rally in Assandh, Karnal. Sitting Congress MLA Shamsher Singh Gogi — a Selja loyalist — is contesting from Assandh. She will also hold a public meeting for Tohana candidate Paramveer Singh and two meetings for Ram Niwas Rara in Hisar.

One of the tallest Dalit leaders of the state, Selja has declared herself as a contender for the CM’s post and maintained that the high command would decide about it.

She was upset as the majority of the Congress tickets had gone to ex-CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda’s camp. She wanted to contest from Uklana to strengthen her case for the CM’s post but was not given a green signal from the high command. The seat went to Hooda’s loyalist Naresh Selval. She couldn’t secure Narnaund’s ticket for Dr Ajay Chaudhary; it went to Jasbir Singh.

BJP leaders and BSP supremo Mayawati have made an issue about Hoodas “mistreating” Selja in the past few days.

Even PM Narendra Modi today took a jibe at the Congress in the Sonepat rally, saying “The Dalit community is looking at the drama in the Congress” and pointed out that the party “has never given representation to the Dalits, OBCs and Scheduled Tribes”.

It is learnt that Congress’ top leaders, including party president Mallikarjun Kharge, had talked to Selja to pacify her. The Scheduled Castes had rallied behind the party during the Lok Sabha elections, and in the Assembly polls too, the party is counting on them. In such a scenario, an annoyed Selja would wean away potential votes and damage the party’s prospects.