Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda under fire from all corners

CHANDIGARH: Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda is perhaps dealing with the worst political crisis of his career. The once Congress satrap is facing stiff opposition from party’s senior leaders Kumari Selja, Ajay Yadav, Kiran Chaudhary and Birender Singh.

From time to time, these ministers, who have a sizeable vote bank in Haryana and are said to be close to the Gandhi family, have opposed the lopsided distribution of funds in the state. They even sought a change of guard in Haryana two months ago, but the demand was turned down by the Congress high command.

An embattled Hooda has few loyalists left. His main aide, former minister Vinod Sharma who was once considered the de-facto CM, left Congress a few months ago to launch his own political outfit, the Jan Chetna Party. And with just two months remaining for Assembly elections, the fissure in the Congress camp has put the twotime CM on the back foot.

Tuesday saw two developments that shook the party cadre—Hooda baiter Birender Singh met BJP president Amit Shah and power minister Capt. Ajay Yadav resigned.