NEW DELHI: Exuding confidence in Congress winning the upcoming Haryana Assembly elections and will form the government with "massive mandate", former chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda said that the final decision on the CM post would be made by the party's high command, and will accept their choice.
In an interview with PTI news agency, Hooda, who is currently traveling across the state, reported receiving strong support from all sections of society. He firmly believes that the people have already decided to vote for a Congress government this time. When asked about his own aspirations for the chief minister's post, Hooda reiterated the party's established norm of electing MLAs, seeking their opinion through observers, and then allowing the high command to make the final decision, which he would accept.
"Whatever it decides will be acceptable to me," the former Haryana chief minister said.
Regarding the challenges posed by other parties such as AAP, INLD-BSP, and JJP-Azad Samaj Party, Hooda dismissed them as insignificant, stating that the elections were a direct contest between the Congress and the BJP . He accused the BJP of propping up candidates like Gopal Kanda to damage the Congress' chances but expressed confidence that the voters of Haryana would not be swayed by such tactics.
Hooda also addressed the BJP's attempts to label the Congress as anti-Dalit, pointing out that reservation for Dalits is enshrined in the Constitution, which his father had signed alongside Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar. He pledged to fight for the Constitution and prevent the BJP from changing it. Hooda criticized the BJP's manifesto as a "copy-paste" document and questioned their sincerity towards women's upliftment, given their lack of action over the past 10 years.
Looking ahead, Hooda expressed his determination to restore Haryana to its former position as a leader in per capita income, law and order, job creation, and sports once the Congress returns to power. He emphasized the importance of ensuring justice for the state's wrestler daughters and addressing the issues of unemployment and the collapse of law and order under the current BJP government.
On the reports of Kumari Selja being miffed with the party leadership, Hooda said, "This is a story created by the media. The Congress is united. I have no issue with anyone."
"The Congress has a tradition; MLA will be elected, observers will come and know the viewpoint of MLAs, and a decision will be taken by them accordingly. I will abide by whatever is decided," he added.
In an interview with PTI news agency, Hooda, who is currently traveling across the state, reported receiving strong support from all sections of society. He firmly believes that the people have already decided to vote for a Congress government this time. When asked about his own aspirations for the chief minister's post, Hooda reiterated the party's established norm of electing MLAs, seeking their opinion through observers, and then allowing the high command to make the final decision, which he would accept.
"Whatever it decides will be acceptable to me," the former Haryana chief minister said.
Regarding the challenges posed by other parties such as AAP, INLD-BSP, and JJP-Azad Samaj Party, Hooda dismissed them as insignificant, stating that the elections were a direct contest between the Congress and the BJP . He accused the BJP of propping up candidates like Gopal Kanda to damage the Congress' chances but expressed confidence that the voters of Haryana would not be swayed by such tactics.
Hooda also addressed the BJP's attempts to label the Congress as anti-Dalit, pointing out that reservation for Dalits is enshrined in the Constitution, which his father had signed alongside Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar. He pledged to fight for the Constitution and prevent the BJP from changing it. Hooda criticized the BJP's manifesto as a "copy-paste" document and questioned their sincerity towards women's upliftment, given their lack of action over the past 10 years.
Looking ahead, Hooda expressed his determination to restore Haryana to its former position as a leader in per capita income, law and order, job creation, and sports once the Congress returns to power. He emphasized the importance of ensuring justice for the state's wrestler daughters and addressing the issues of unemployment and the collapse of law and order under the current BJP government.
On the reports of Kumari Selja being miffed with the party leadership, Hooda said, "This is a story created by the media. The Congress is united. I have no issue with anyone."
"The Congress has a tradition; MLA will be elected, observers will come and know the viewpoint of MLAs, and a decision will be taken by them accordingly. I will abide by whatever is decided," he added.
