Haryana Diary: Congress leaders cosying up to BJP

Yamunanagar: A decade out of power seems to have worn down the patience of some Congress leaders in Haryana. After several party members joined the BJP during the 2024 Assembly elections, others are now quietly engaging with senior BJP leaders. Rumours swirl that prominent Congress leaders recently met Haryana Agriculture Minister Shyam Singh Rana at his official Chandigarh residence. A political observer said, “Politics should be conducted openly, not behind closed doors.”

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Cong MLA caught in controversy

Bhiwani: Congress MLA Rajbir Fartia from Loharu is in hot water following the tragic suicide of a college student allegedly harassed by individuals linked with his private college. Among the accused are his brother-in-law and nephew, who have been arrested. While Fartia has called for a CBI probe, his stance has clashed with prominent Congress leaders Kumari Selja and Randeep Surjewala, exposing deep factional divides within the party. Fartia, aligned with former CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda, expressed dismay over the political exploitation of the tragedy.

Simian menace overshadows CS visit

Hisar: Even a visit from Haryana Chief Secretary Vivek Joshi couldn’t inspire cleanup efforts at Hisar’s mini-secretariat, where garbage-strewn corridors and monkeys wreak havoc. While Joshi held a meeting on the first floor, images of monkeys rummaging through trash on the third floor went viral on social media. Officials admitted the issue has persisted for years, with monkeys regularly causing damage, particularly on holidays.

BKU chief draws ire over CM meeting

Ambala: Gurnam Singh Charuni, leader of Bhartiya Kisan Union (Charuni), faced criticism from fellow farmer groups after meeting Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini to discuss farmers’ grievances. The meeting, amid ongoing protests, sparked backlash, prompting Charuni to lash out on social media. He blamed internal divisions among farmers for the delay in resolving their issues.

CM’s surprise visit sparks local buzz

Jhajjar: Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini surprised Bahadurgarh residents by visiting the home of his supporter and former municipal councillor Jasbir Saini unannounced. Jasbir, who wasn’t home at the time, rushed back after receiving the news. The CM’s gesture won local admiration and became the talk of the town.

Reservation shuffles aspirations

Karnal: The reservation of wards for women and specific categories has disrupted the plans of former councillors eyeing municipal election seats. BJP leader Vir Vikram from Ward-10 has now projected his daughter as a candidate while Yudhveer Saini from Ward-16 is proposing his wife. Similarly, other ex-councillors like Naveen Kumar and Balwainder Singh are strategising new moves after their wards were reserved for SC (women) and BC-A (women), respectively.

Race hots up for mayoral bypoll

Panipat: Preparations are underway for the byelection to fill the vacant mayoral post of Sonepat Municipal Corporation. The seat fell vacant after the first mayor, Nikhil Madaan, won the Sonepat Assembly seat in October. Elected in December 2020, Madaan’s tenure was set to run until December 2024. While the State Election Commission is yet to announce the byelection date, aspirants have already begun lobbying for party tickets and reaching out to senior leaders to secure their candidacy.