It's Hooda vs Selja again before election of Haryana CLP

CHANDIGARH: After a week-long lull, lobbying is back in Haryana Congress with 31 of the total 37 newly-elected party MLAs going into a huddle at the residence of former CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda in Delhi Wednesday, two days ahead of the legislature party's meeting to pick its new leader, reports Manvir Saini. Five MLAs close to Hooda's bete noire, Sirsa LS MP Selja , stayed away from the meeting.

Political observers say Congress is likely to go for a non-Jat candidate as CLP leader as projecting Hooda, a Jat, cost the party dear in the assembly polls with BJP successfully consolidating non-Jat votes and winning back a section of Dalits at many places.

According to reports, the anti-Hooda section is rooting for Panchkula MLA Chander Mohan for the CLP leader's post. The legislator from Bishnoi community, who is former CM late Bhajan Lal's son, is among the five MLAs who stayed away from the meeting. Others who were absent include Aditya Surjewala, son of RS MP Randeep Surjewala, Shalley Chaudhary, Akram Khan and Renu Bala. The MLAs close to Selja said they were not aware of the meeting at Hooda's residence. "It could be their private meeting. Not a party meeting," one of the MLAs said.

Hooda wants one of his non-Jat loyalists to be appointed as CLP leader. The 31 MLAs who met in New Delhi were given party tickets on the recommendation of Hooda or his MP son, Deepender.