Haryana Congress Abuzz with JJP Legislators' Entry: Eyeing Lok Sabha Tickets

The Haryana Congress is abuzz with the news of Jannayak Janata Party (JJP) legislators making their way into the party fold. According to Congress sources, at least two JJP MLAs are in touch with the party, and there are demands for Lok Sabha tickets for these new entrants, causing a stir within the party. 

The Selja-Hooda Tussle

On one side, there is Kumari Selja, while on the other, former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, who have both expressed their opposition to the idea. It is believed that these JJP legislators have a Congress background, and the party is keen to bring them back into the fold to gain political mileage. 

Ticket Allocation Conundrum

This has complicated the Congress's ticket distribution process for the 6 Lok Sabha seats in Haryana, as the party had already reached a consensus on candidates for Sirsa (Kumari Selja), Rohtak (Deepender Hooda), and Faridabad (Mahendra Pratap) during its previous meeting. The party is also considering actor-turned-politician Raj Babbar for the Gurugram seat.

Accommodating Party Heavyweights

The fact that several prominent Congress leaders in Haryana have opted out of the Lok Sabha race has added to the party's challenge. The central leadership is now trying to accommodate these senior leaders by finding them suitable seats, leading to a tussle among the party's factions. 

Possible Surprise Candidate

The Congress party may spring a surprise by fielding a prominent spiritual leader from Uttarakhand as a candidate for the Sonipat Lok Sabha seat. Brijendra Singh and ChandraMohan are also said to be strong contenders for the Hisar and Bhiwani- Mahendergarh seats, respectively.

The Congress leadership has made it clear that the party's Central Election Committee (CEC) meeting on April 9 should have only one candidate for each of the 9 Lok Sabha seats in Haryana. The final decision on the nominees is expected to be announced on April 10.