Ahirwal community lays claim to Haryana Cong presidency

Calling themselves the kingmakers in Haryana, several Ahir associations have reached out to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge seeking party presidency for the community.

Members of the Yadav Mahasabhas said the Congress should look beyond Jat-centric politics and concentrate on the Other Backward Classes (OBCs).

The Ahir leaders claimed that even when party was in power in the state, they were ignored. They said South Haryana, especially the Ahirwal region, had many leaders who enjoyed mass public support.

“The Congress has lost its public connect in the Ahirwal region in the past 11 years. Despite having good leaders, party never gave them the power. As a result, youths were ignored when it came to providing government jobs. Even development took a back seat in the area during the Congress tenure. We have seasoned leaders like Captain Ajay Singh Yadva, Rao Daan Singh, Rao Narender Singh and youth leaders like Rao Chiranjiv,” read a letter shot by Rambir Yadav, head of the Yadav Kalyan Sabha.

Rao Ajit Singh, patron of the Ahirwal regiment movement, said, “Kosli decides who will be elected in Rohtak. Ahirs are the kingmakers and they can’t be ignored any longer.”

Notably, Ahirs in South Haryana have around 12 lakh votes and are part of the OBC community. It’s the OBC voters who gave BJP a third chance to form the government in the state. Six-time MLA and former minister Captain Ajay Singh Yadav had recently raised the demand, which had spread across the Ahirwal region.

“The OBCs swayed in favour of the BJP, which chose Nayab Singh Saini as its CM face. Now, the Congress can counter that by choosing a Yadav state president as it is the need of the hour,” said Sandeep Yadav of the Yadav Mahasabha, Hisar.

One of the contenders in race, Rao Daan Singh, said they would stand united with high command’s decision, but giving South Haryana, especially Ahirwals, the baton would surely bring the desired change.