Bhupinder Hooda Exclusive: No factionalism in Haryana Congress, party is united

Former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda dispelled rumours of factionalism in the Congress, saying the party is united and exuded confidence in forming a government in the state with a majority.
In an exclusive interview with India Today’s Executive Editor Preeti Choudhry, Hooda, a two-time Chief Minister, said he was open to having a Haryana Deputy Chief Minister if the Congress won the upcoming Assembly polls and ruled out chances of retiring from politics.
Asked about factionalism in the Haryana Congress, Hooda admitted that while some leaders had aspirations and differences, the party was contesting the Assembly elections as a united front.
“We are one party. We are united. There are no camps. There could be differences among some leaders as they all have aspirations. But, everyone is talking about strengthening Congress. We are contesting the polls unitedly,” he said.
Asked whether there was a possibility of having a Haryana Deputy Chief Minister if Congress won the October 5 Assembly polls, the 77-year-old leader said, “Yes, I am open to it. We can have discussions on this once Congress wins.”
Reacting to his ‘neither tired nor retired’ remark in a PTI interview last month, Hooda said he was ready to serve whatever responsibility was given to him. “There is no question of retiring. If the party gives me a chance, I will serve for Haryana,” he said.
Responding to a question about Randeep Singh Surjewala aspiring to become the Chief Minister, Hooda said, “That is okay. He can also aspire to become that (Chief Minister). But, when newly-elected Congress MLAs meet, they will be asked by the observers about their opinions and the high command will make a final decision.”
Speaking about the collapsed seat-sharing negotiations between AAP and Congress, Bhupinder Singh Hooda said the grand old party tried its best to give the Arvind Kejriwal-led party its share, but the talks did not materialise further.
“AAP is part of our alliance at the national level, but not at the state level. Negotiations went on. We tried our best, but it did not work out. Seat-sharing happens on give and take. When we offered their worth, they were demanding more. So, it (alliance) did not happen,” he said.
Asked about AAP entering the fray and making the electoral contest multi-cornered, Hooda said the battle was solely between the Congress and the BJP.
“Bypolls happened in Adampur recently. AAP won 3,000 votes there. In the last Assembly polls, AAP candidates lost their deposits. Haryana voters are intelligent. People have made up their minds and the battle is between the Congress and the BJP. Vote cutter parties won’t get votes,” he said.
Hooda said the Congress always stood with wrestlers and added that he saw how upset wrestler Vinesh Phogat was when she was disqualified for her gold medal bout in the Paris Olympics after she was found to be 100 grams overweight before the match.
He said that after Vinesh Phogat and her fellow wrestler Bajrang Punia met Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, it was decided that a ticket should be given to her. Vinesh Phogat is contesting from Julana Assembly seat.
“I had said then that she (Vinesh) should be sent to the Rajya Sabha. She was very upset about what happened to her. She joined politics so that she could inspire people (to participate in sports). Bajrang Punia did not want a ticket,” he stated.
Accusing the BJP government of being involved in corruption, he asserted that the saffron party will be wiped out in the Haryana Assembly polls.
“Crores of rupees were recovered in the Haryana Public Service Commission scam. The subordinate service commission chairman got suspended for corruption. There was corruption in Kaushal Vikas Yojana. How many paper leaks have happened? They are just trying to hide their failures,” he said.
“Our focus will be on tackling unemployment, inflation, maintaining law and order and promoting development that has been stalled in the past 10 years. We will fulfill all the guarantees made by the party,” he added.
Counting of votes in the 90-member Haryana Assembly will be held on October 8.