CHANDIGARH: Former chief minister and outgoing Leader of Opposition Bhupinder Singh Hooda apparently has the backing of 32 out of the 37 newly elected legislators for the post of Haryana Congress Legislature Party (CLP) chief.
However, also in the race are former deputy chief minister Chander Mohan Bishnoi, Ex-Speaker Ashok Arora and former minister Geeta Bhukkal.
Sources said that the three-member party observers headed by former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot discussed leadership choices with the party MLAs on Friday.
The meeting concluded with a resolution to leave the final decision to the party high command. A report from the observers to the high command is awaited.
It is learnt that names of three leaders emerged as potential candidates besides former chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda. These are ex-speaker Ashok Arora, former minister Geeta Bhukkal and former deputy chief minister Chander Mohan Bishnoi.
Interestingly, 32 of the 37 party legislators who are with the Hooda’s camp have expressed solidarity with him at a recent meeting in Delhi.
It may be recalled that former deputy chief minister Chander Mohan was given party ticket from Panchkula at the behest of Lok Sabha Member of Parliament from Sirsa, Kumari Selja.
Chander Mohan who is the elder son of former chief minister late Bhajan Lal, is a five-time MLA. He has been elected as MLA four times from Kalka and in the recent election from Panchkula. But due to the ``Fiza episode’’ due to which he had to resign from the post of Deputy Chief Minister in 2008, might create a hurdle for him, said sources.
Sources pointed that the meeting to elect the legislative chief was in the context of the party’s internal dynamics, particularly if the high command opts for someone other than Hooda.
It is learnt Hooda remains a strong contender though he is not the only choice. The factors which the party might consider are experience and strategic acumen for assembly sessions and a person who can represent the party outside the assembly also.
Discussions suggest a preference for a non-Jat leader to counter the BJP's consolidated votes.
After the party lost the assembly elections, Haryana Congress in-charge Deepak Babaria offered his resignation to Rahul Gandhi. The move has increased the pressure on state party president Dhai Bhan to resign from his post as he had also lost from where he contested. He is a Hooda loyalist.