Hooda’s CLP meet showcases unity, strength

Former Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition Bhupinder Singh Hooda today chaired his first Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting since assuming the post, followed by separate discussions with district Congress presidents.

After the meeting at the party’s state office, Hooda hosted a ‘lunch diplomacy’ at his residence — a significant show of strength that brought together over 250 senior leaders, including MPs, MLAs, former legislators, district chiefs and recent poll candidates.

The gathering, seen as a message of unity and authority within the Haryana Congress, was attended by HPCC chief Rao Narender Singh, state incharge BK Hariprasad and co-incharges Jitendra Baghel and Praful Gudhe.

“Hooda has hit many targets with one arrow — reaffirming his grip on the party, energising workers and showing detractors he is neither ‘tired’ nor ‘retired’,” said an MLA close to him.

Meanwhile, an all-party meeting chaired by Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini and attended by leaders from across political lines, including Hooda, resolved to commemorate the 350th Shahidi Diwas of Guru Tegh Bahadur with full dignity and public participation.

It was decided that four state-wide yatras would be organised, starting November 8 from Rori in Sirsa, covering historic sites linked to Guru.