Trouble in Congress: Hooda announces panel to decide ''course of action'' for his faction

Ravinder Saini
Tribune News Service
Rohtak, August 18

A rebellion appears to be rumbling in the Congress—this time in Haryana.

At a 'Maha Privartan Rally’ he addressed at the Cattle Fair Ground in Rohtak on Sunday, former chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda announced a 25-member committee to decide the “future course of action” for his faction—words that appear to suggest he and his supporters could decide to break away from the party. The committee he announced will comprise 13 Congress MLAs owing their allegiance to him.

“Since the issue pertains to the future of people of Haryana, I cannot take the decision alone.  Hence, a 25-member committee will be formed to decide further course of action. The decision will later be announced in Chandigarh,” Hooda said.

He also announced, should he be elected chief minister again, he would have four deputy chief ministers.  

Increase of old-age pension to Rs 5,000 per month, waiver of farmers’ loan, restoration of old pension scheme, financial aid of Rs 2,000 per month to women in the Below Poverty Line category, free electricity up to 300 units for BPL families, recruitment of 50,000 sanitary workers, free travel for women on Haryana Roadways buses, making wheat and rice available at Rs 2 per kg for BPL families, simplifying GST were among his prominent promises.

It’s interesting that the stage had no posters.

Coming as it does no more than a month before state assembly elections, the veteran Congress leader’s words appear ominous to a party that is already reeling under the effects of a disastrous loss in the general elections.