Rajya Sabha MP, Kumari Selja who has been appointed as the new President of the Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee, says that law and order has collapsed in the state. People of all sections are unhappy, be it farmers, traders, employees, labourers, women, youth. Women in Haryana are feeling insecure and entire state economy is in a slump. She questioned, How 75+ of BJP can be an issue of Haryana Assembly elections.
The announcement of Selja as HPCC chief came after weeks of uncertainty and sparring within the Congress’ Haryana unit over its leadership. She has been tasked with the responsibility of bringing various warring factions of the state Congress together in time for the Assembly polls in Haryana.
The 56- year- old Selja, the former Union minister will have to bind the party together, rejuvenate the cadre and build a comprehensive campaign to take on the strong BJP election machinery.
In an exclusive interview with The Pioneer, Selja reveals her priority as HPCC chief and strategy for the upcoming Assembly polls. Excerpts from the interview:
Congratulations to you, for the new role. What will be your first priority being State party chief?
Thanks. It is a very big responsibility. I understand the seriousness of it. Assembly polls have come and all the leaders together have to fight the polls. The BJP is a propaganda machine and we will have to fight that out. Our first priority is to ensure that all the party leaders work together. I do not think there is an issue in the party. If any issue comes, we will resolve with consultation among the party leaders amicably. All the party's top state leaders will work together in the polls to give a strong fight to the BJP. We are confident of winning the Assembly election as BJP has failed in all fronts.
How you will unite the party when role of State senior leaders like Kiran Choudhary, Randeep Singh Surjewala, Ashok Tanwar among others has not been defined. Many leaders do not know what will be their role in the party except contesting the Assembly election.
With the passage of time, things will get clear. I cannot reveal you everything right now. We will soon meet all party leaders and all issues will be resolved amicably. We all will work unitedly to achieve the set goal of forming the government in the state.
Congress lost all the 10 seats in the parliamentary election. What will be your strategy for the Assembly election? Are you confident of forming the next government in the state?
The party leaders and supporters must forget past and move forward unitedly to take on the BJP in the Assembly polls. The "Modi factor" will not work in the Assembly polls slated to take place in October. BJP in the state has always diverted people from "real issues" as there is nothing to show. Right now in Haryana, law and order has collapsed. All sections are unhappy, be it farmers, labourers, women, youth. Entire state economy is in a slump. Youngsters don't have jobs. We have to bring the people on real issues like price rise, women's safety, crime and employment to youth. With the support of the people, party will definitely form the government.
BJP has set the target of 75+ seats in the upcoming Assembly election. What has the Congress Party set target for the Assembly election?
Setting target of 75+ seats by BJP for the upcoming Assembly election is not an issue for the people of the State. BJP is using the abrogation of Article 370 provisions as a poll plank in Haryana to divert attention from the failures of Manohar Lal Khattar government. Congress party has not set the target but the party will go to the people with the pertinent issues. It will secure the majority to form the government in the state. Youngsters don't have jobs, there is danger lurking everywhere. As there is nothing to show, they give one slogan or the other. We have to bring the real issues like price rise, women's safety, crime and employment to youth to the people.
Factionalism in the Congress is well-known. How you will unite the party leaders to give strong fight to the BJP in the upcoming assembly election?
I am repeatedly saying that the party leaders will have to forget past and move forward unitedly to take on the BJP. Everybody fights for his or her space and that is a natural phenomenon. Basically, we need to give respect to everybody and everybody has to also realise that we are all in this together and we have to take support from each other and work together. I think all of us will rise to the occasion, we will all work together. There is no factionalism as such that cannot be resolved. Congress is the oldest party of the country and has seen several ups and downs. It is a big party in which everyone will a have role, utility and space. Amicably we will resolve the issue with the process of consultation among the leaders.
By naming Bhupinder Singh Hooda as the CLP leader and chairman of the election management committee for the Assembly polls, it seems as the party chief you have limited role to play in the assembly election. Is Hooda Congress Party's CM face?
The party has not projected anyone as chief ministerial candidate. Now we have to focus on fighting the election unitedly and form the government in the State. The issue of chief minister will be resolved after Assembly election results are declared.
Hooda had gone to the extent of criticising the Congress on the issue of abrogation of Article 370 and had also said that the party had no more remained what it was. Your comment
Hooda's remarks at the 'Maha Parivartan Rally' on August 18 has been a matter of the past. We have to move forward, forgetting the past. He has been given a responsibility which he will fulfill. I will also fulfill my responsibility and all other senior leaders will fulfill their responsibility.
Congress is apparently going with Dalit-Jat leadership in Haryana polls when the ruling BJP is seen consolidating the non-Jat vote bank under Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar. Your comments.
The Congress has been a party of more than three dozen castes. Even at the time of Jat reservation, BJP allowed the fire to blaze and increased the divide. They have a policy of polarisation. Congress has never played this kind of politics. Congress believes in taking everyone along. The party works for all sections of the people.
In the August 18 rally, Hooda's statement was that he would have four deputy chief ministers. How many Deputy CMs would the Congress have after forming the government in the state?
Hooda's statement that he would have four deputy chief ministers was also a matter of the past. Now we want to forget what happened in the past. Now we would move forward and the focus right now is to see that everyone works together. I emphasise that the focus right now was on winning elections.
BJP leaders say organisational changes by Congress will not change the fortune in the State assembly elections. Congress has lost its ground. Your comment.
I have nothing to comment on BJP leaders. People know Congress is the oldest party and served them for longest time. BJP has failed to meet its promises in five years. BJP leaders know they are a failure on many issues. They want to divert from real issues that is why they are raising such issues (as Article 370). This is Haryana Vidhan Sabha election and they should raise Haryana issues.
What is your comment on BJP leaders’ statement over "brides of Bihar” and “brides of Kashmir"?
BJP leaders have comodified women. They were earlier talking about Bihar’s women, now State CM Manohar Lal Khattar is talking about Kashmiri women. These people think they can make light remarks about women. It is reflective of their mindset, what they actually think of women.
The Congress last governed Haryana Hooda was the chief minister for two consecutive terms. Having finished third in the 2014 Assembly polls, amid the ‘Narendra Modi wave’, Congress had even failed secure the Leader of Opposition’s post. BJP says there is no opposition in the state. What new will you do new to give strong fight in the Assembly election?
BJP has become arrogant in five years. We are with the people raising their concerns from time to time. Congress had worked for the betterment of people for consecutive two terms from 2005 to 2014. Parties come and go in politics but no one should become as arrogant as BJP is today. People will give BJP a lesson in the upcoming election.
