Selja conspicuous by absence in campaign post ticket allotment

With Sirsa MP and former Union minister Kumari Selja missing in the electoral action after the allocation of tickets, a section of the Congress in Haryana has expressed concern over her prolonged absence from the poll campaign. Though the Congress had declared its final list of candidates about a week ago, the former Union minister has stayed away from the electoral arena. An incident of a caste slur by a man in Narnaund Assembly segment further added fuel to the fire.

Sources said factionalism in the Congress had reflected in the selection of the candidates for the Assembly elections. While former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and state party president Udai Bhan called the shots in the ticket allocation, Selja also tried to lobby for the ticket aspirants who owe allegiance to her.

The sources revealed that during the discussion for the selection of candidates, there was a difference of opinion at certain Assembly constituencies, which also led to delayed release of the list for two specific seats in Hisar district — Uklana (reserved) and Narnaund Assembly segments.

The sources said being her home segment, Selja wanted a candidate of her choice in Uklana Assembly segment while she had already made it public that she would seek a ticket for Congress leader Dr Ajay Chaudhry, son of four-time MLA from Narnaund. The sources revealed that Selja managed to get tickets for the candidates who owe allegiance to her at about 10-11 seats in Hisar, Fatehabad and Ambala districts.

However, the tussle related to allocation of tickets seems to have gone a bit too far and has resulted in a deadlock in the absence of intervention by senior party leaders. Though Hooda and his son Rohtak MP Deepender Hooda had embarked on campaign trail across the state, the absence of Selja from the ground was not only hitting the campaign of candidates whom she managed to get the ticket, but also reflecting on the campaign across the state.

Prof ML Goyal, a retired professor of political science, said Selja’s supporters were upset and feeling neglected in the ticket distribution. “Selja’s absence will affect the Congress’ prospects if the deadlock between the two camps of Haryana leaders is not resolved soon,” he said.

Man who made casteist remarks booked

The Hansi police have booked Pirthi under relevant sections of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. He had made casteist remarks against Kumari Selja in Narnaund on September 12. Ex- CM Bhupinder Hooda had denounced the remarks