Battle for the Top Spot: Haryana Congress Leaders Race to Win Public Support

The Haryana Congress is witnessing an intensifying race for leadership as key party figures launch competing public outreach programs, each vying to position themselves as the top contender for the Chief Minister's post in the upcoming state assembly elections. 

The political maneuvering began when Sirsa MP Kumari Selja announced her plans for a padyatra (foot march) through urban areas of Haryana. This strategic move aims to strengthen the party's presence in city centers, where the BJP has shown strength in recent elections. Selja's team is currently finalizing the route for this march, which is expected to cover 44 assembly constituencies where the BJP held an advantage in the last Lok Sabha elections.

In a swift countermove, former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda has put forward his son, MP Deepender Hooda, to lead a competing outreach program. Deepender is set to embark on a combination of padyatra and mini-bus tour, focusing on both urban and rural areas. This initiative, starting on July 15 from Karnal's old grain market, will see Deepender walking about 5 kilometers daily in urban areas and using a mini-bus to reach village communities. 

The elder Hooda is not sitting idle either. He has plans for a rath yatra (chariot journey) across all 90 assembly constituencies, scheduled to begin after August 20. This tour will be accompanied by Udaybhan, the Haryana Congress state president, underscoring Hooda's influence within the party structure.

Additionally, Bhupinder Hooda has organized a series of caste and profession-based conferences throughout July and August. These events target various groups including backward classes, ex-servicemen, scheduled castes, traders, women, and NRIs, demonstrating a comprehensive approach to garnering support. 

This flurry of activities highlights the internal competition within the Haryana Congress, with each faction trying to prove its mettle to the party high command. The Hooda camp seems intent on sending a message that they have full control over the party's campaign responsibilities in the state. 

The timing of these campaigns is crucial, coming on the heels of the recent Lok Sabha elections where the BJP performed strongly, particularly in urban areas. The Congress leaders' focus on both urban and rural outreach indicates their recognition of the need to recapture lost ground across all demographics. 

However, this internal competition also underscores the ongoing factionalism within the Haryana Congress, a issue that has hampered the party's performance in the last two assembly elections and three Lok Sabha polls. The party has seen open dissent from leaders like Kiran Choudhry and Captain Ajay Yadav in the past, with some even leaving the party due to ticket distribution disputes. 

As the state inches closer to the assembly elections, the effectiveness of these outreach programs in unifying the party and appealing to voters remains to be seen. The coming weeks will be critical in determining which leader can garner the most public support and potentially sway the party leadership's decision on who will lead the Congress into the state elections. 

The unfolding drama in Haryana Congress serves as a microcosm of the challenges faced by the party nationwide, as it struggles to balance internal ambitions with the need for a united front against its political opponents. The outcome of this leadership tussle could have significant implications not just for the party's prospects in Haryana, but also for its broader revival strategy across India.