BJP Using Abrogation Of Article 370 As Poll Plank In Haryana: Kumari Selja

Kumari Selja, newly appointed Haryana unit chief of the Congress party, has alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party of using the revocation of Article 370 provisions as a poll plank in Haryana to divert attention from the ‘failures’ of the state government led by Manohar Lal Khattar.

"He does not have anything to offer to the people of Haryana that is why he is taking shelter under this," 57-year-old Selja told PTI in response to Khattar's remarks that there is overwhelming support for the Centre's move to revoke Jammu and Kashmir's special status in Haryana and that BJP's popularity has soared.

The BJP, she said, wants to make nationalism and abrogation of Article 370 major poll issues but this is not right.

Asserting that the assembly elections will be fought on ‘real issues’ that affect people and not on nationalism and abrogation of Article 370 of the Indian Constitution.

Reacting to Hooda's remarks at the 'Maha Parivartan Rally' on August 18 in Rohtak, Selja, a three-time Lok Sabha MP from Haryana, said all the party's top state leaders will work together in the polls to give a strong fight to the BJP.

"We have to move forward, forgetting the past. He has been given a responsibility which he will fulfil, I will also fulfil my responsibility and all other senior leaders will fulfil their responsibility," she said.

Hooda's statement that he would have four deputy chief ministers were also in the past, she said, emphasising that the focus right now was on winning elections.

In a bid to end factionalism in the party ahead of assembly polls, the Congress named Selja chief of its state unit and appointed former chief minister Hooda head of the election management committee.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi also appointed Hooda the Congress Legislative Party (CLP) leader, and by virtue of that leader of opposition in the state assembly.

Asked how she would tackle infighting in the party's state unit, Selja said 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," the Haryana Congress chief told PTI.

The 56-year-old Rajya Sabha MP sidestepped a question on whether Hooda could be the chief ministerial face of the party, saying the focus right now is to see that everyone works together.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Selja said all party's top state leaders will work together in the polls to give a strong fight to the BJP.
• Selja said everybody fights for his or her space and that is a natural phenomenon.
• 57-year-old Selja was appointed  Haryana unit chief of the Congress party yesterday.