Hooda consolidates control over Congress

With both posts of Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader and Pradesh Congress Committee president going to Hooda's camp, a former CM, Bhupinder Singh Hooda, has consolidated his hold over the state unit.

The camp’s first choice was the CLP post for Hooda, who would eventually become the Leader of the Opposition. With Rao Narender Singh as PCC president, it's like icing on the cake. The party prioritised continuity over change. Despite losing three elections, it gave a signal to his Jat voter base and avoided any experimentation. It has chosen stability over a generational shift.

With the Backward Class leader as the state unit president, the party will attempt to counter the expanding BJP base in south Haryana. It will be after two decades that the party has given a leadership role to a member of a Backward Class. For the last two decades, the party has had a Dalit as a PCC president — Phool Chand Mullana, Ashok Tanwar, Kumari Selja, and Udai Bhan.

Detractors may see it as marginalisation of the anti-Hooda camp, which comprises Sirsa MP Kumari Selja, former Union minister Birender Singh, and Congress general secretary Randeep Surjewala.

The challenge for both Hooda and Singh is to strike a balance between asserting authority and accommodating rival factions. The factionalism has kept the party paralysed and the outcome was visible in the last three state Assembly elections.

How Rao Narender was chosen

A prominent leader of the party said over the past about 20 years, there had been an SC leader as PCC president. As the party had reached a saturation point, to expand further, it needed an OBC face. Among several OBC leaders considered, a leader from the Yadav community, Rao Narender Singh, was finally chosen.

Congress incharge BK Hariprasad had discussed his name with other members of the anti-Hooda camp, including Selja and Surjewala. MLAs were also asked for their opinion. Though not all agreed, deliberations did take place.

Birender Singh said, “I congratulate both Hooda and Rao Narender Singh. People want to bring back the Congress. The PCC president's position is a challenging role. If he works hard, the party can come back.”

Selja also congratulated Hooda and Singh.

A former minister in the Hooda Cabinet from 2009-2014, Rao Narender Singh lost the 2014, 2019, and 2024 Assembly polls.

A senior party leader said, “How can a leader who lost three successive elections rejuvenate the party. He will be like another Udai Bhan for the party. The control will remain with the Hoodas.”

In his affidavit for the 2024 polls, Rao Narender Singh mentioned a case pending against him under the Prevention of Corruption Act, pertaining to 'cash-for-Change-in-Land-Use' scam. The Haryana Lokayukta had ordered an FIR in December 2015 against five MLAs, including Singh. The others were Vinod Bhayana, Naresh Selval, Jarnail Singh, and Ram Niwas Ghorela.

In essence, the Congress remains Hooda-centric. The coming months will show whether the consolidation of power will revitalise the party’s prospects or deepen the perception that the Congress is a one-man show.