Hoodas covertly supported rebel candidates, siphoning crucial votes away from official Congress nominees?
Karamyogi
As discontent grows over the Congress’s surprising defeat in Haryana, the party leadership has responded in a now familiar fashion: by forming a “high-level committee” to investigate internal rifts and claims of EVM manipulation. Yet many within the party are openly questioning the committee’s potential impact, fearing it may divert focus from the core reasons behind the loss.
At the center of the storm is Bhupinder Singh Hooda, the former Chief Minister who led the Haryana campaign, and his son, Rohtak MP Deepender Hooda. Allegations are surfacing that the Hoodas may have covertly supported rebel candidates, siphoning crucial votes away from official Congress nominees. Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition, was reportedly “misled” by internal party divisions, as claimed by two candidates.
Capt Ajay Singh Yadav, chairman of Congress’s OBC wing and five-time Rewari MLA, expressed disillusionment with his role in the campaign. Yadav voiced frustration at being sidelined and criticized the party’s underrepresentation of OBCs in key decision-making panels, which he believes contributed to the Congress’s failure in South Haryana districts like Gurgaon, Mahendragarh, and Rewari.
The defeat of Shamsher Singh Gogi, the candidate for whom Rahul Gandhi himself campaigned, is a particularly bitter point. Gogi attributed his loss to polarization and internal sabotage, directly blaming the Hooda faction.
“Had the Congress won, the Hoodas would have claimed victory. Now, they must own the defeat,” he said, reflecting a deep divide within the party. Another candidate, Parvinder Singh Pari from Ambala Cantonment, accused Deepender Hooda of aiding rebels who diverted support to BJP candidate Anil Vij and Congress rebel Chitra Sarwara, which further fragmented the Congress vote.
This infighting has brought to light broader issues of leadership and factionalism within the Haryana Congress. The lack of unity and coordination, coupled with internal divisions, appeared to have hampered the campaign, weakening the party’s ability to present a cohesive front to voters. Many see the formation of the high-level committee as a traditional, if often ineffective, response that may fail to address the pressing issues behind the party’s electoral setbacks.
The committee, led by prominent Congress figures, is expected to meet every Congress candidate to gather insights. But skepticism lingers, with party members concerned the committee’s findings may never be acted upon, as has been the case with similar inquiries in the past.
As Haryana’s Congress leaders brace for tough introspection, many believe that only a comprehensive reorganization will resolve the factional issues and reinvigorate the party’s chances in future elections.
