Governance at stake as Haryana Cong dithers on LoP appointment

Haryana has been without a Leader of the Opposition (LoP) for nearly eight months now. Blame it on rampant factionalism or the Congress high command's indifference, the principal opposition party has failed to elect a Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader — who would automatically assume the role of LoP in the Haryana Assembly.

The absence of a LoP — an essential member of the Chief Minister-led selection committee responsible for key statutory appointments — has raised concerns of a governance logjam. Important bodies such as the State Information Commission, Haryana Human Rights Commission, Lokayukta, and several Assembly committees are left in limbo due to the vacuum.

With a case on the issue pending in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, the Haryana Government recently urged the Congress to either nominate a LoP or send a representative for a selection committee meeting to appoint the Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) and Information Commissioners. The Congress, as a stop-gap measure, nominated former CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda to attend the meeting, which recommended names for the CIC and five Information Commissioners. However, this arrangement appears to be a one-off.

The dispute over electing the CLP leader dates back to the aftermath of the October Assembly elections last year, when the Congress emerged as the main Opposition with 37 MLAs. While 32 MLAs supported Hooda, the high command was reportedly seeking a ‘fresh face’ and reluctant to renominate the Jat stalwart to the prestigious post, which carries the rank of a Cabinet Minister.

Lobbying within the party intensified. Sirsa MP Kumari Selja, backed by at least four MLAs, also joined the race, pitching for a candidate from her faction.

To break the impasse, the Congress deputed party observers — former Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot, general secretary Ajay Maken and senior leader TS Singh Deo — to Chandigarh. They were joined by Punjab LoP Partap Singh Bajwa and Haryana Congress president Udai Bhan. The team held one-on-one interactions with Congress legislators and submitted a detailed report to the high command. But more than seven months later, the report continues to gather dust as the leadership remains undecided.

The delay has handed a political weapon to the ruling BJP, which has been quick to target the Congress.

"How can a party, which cannot even fulfil its basic constitutional obligation of electing its CLP, swear by democratic principles and public interest?" said BJP chief Mohan Lal Badoli.

The absence of a LoP has also caused unease among Congress MLAs, particularly new egislators, who remain clueless about how to communicate with the high command or raise constituency issues.

Observers have drawn parallels between Haryana and Jharkhand, where the BJP had delayed the appointment of the LoP. There, the Supreme Court had to step in, leading to Babulal Marandi’s appointment.

Whatever the justification, the Congress’s failure to resolve its internal discord and appoint a CLP leader exposes the disarray within Haryana Congress — a party that has lacked a functioning organisational structure for over a decade.