Will Congress play the SC card for Haryana Rajya Sabha seat amid internal strife?
Karamvir Singh Baudh is a strong contender for the ticket among the SC candidates
The Congress has still not been able to finalise its candidate for one of the two Rajya Sabha seats that will fall in its kitty.
The name is expected to be announced shortly since Thursday is the last date for filing nominations.
Sources said that the Congress wants to give the ticket to an SC candidate to balance caste equations in Haryana. Among the SC candidates vying for the ticket is Karamvir Singh Baudh, who is a strong contender for the ticket.
He was seeking a ticket from the Mullana reserved constituency in the 2024 Assembly elections. Other contenders include former state chiefs Ashok Tanwar, Udai Bhan and ex-MLA Jaiveer Balmiki.
While Tanwar, who re-joined the Congress ahead of the Assembly elections, is a contender, Leader of Opposition Bhupinder Singh Hooda is keen on sending Bhan to the Rajya Sabha. The party, according to leaders, is keen on playing the SC card since Hooda, a Jat, is the Leader of Opposition, Rao Narendra is state chief, and the SCs are yet to get representation.
By appointing an Ahir, an OBC caste, as state chief, the party broke away from the conventional Jat-SC combination that has led the party for long. Now, sources say, the party wants to give representation to the SC lobby, provided it is able to balance the party equations.
At least 10 leaders have staked their claim for the party ticket. Sources said that the party high command's dilemma lies in balancing the various factions within the Congress and finding a "neutral" candidate.
Among other seeking the ticket are sitting Congress state chief Rao Narendra Singh, former MLA Rao Dan Singh, and former minister Capt Ajay Yadav, all Ahir leaders. Sources said that the other faction, comprising MP Kumari Selja and RS MP Randeep Surjewala, is backing Rao Narendra Singh.
The term of two Rajya Sabha members—Kiran Choudhry and Ramchandra Jangra—will end on April 9. To fill the seats falling vacant due to the completion of their tenure, the schedule for the biennial election was notified last week. While nominations for both seats can be filed until March 5, scrutiny of nomination papers will be done on March 6, and candidates will be permitted to withdraw their names until March 9. If required, polling will be held on March 16.
