Direct fight between BJP & Congress: Hooda
NEW DELHI: As Haryana gears up for the assembly elections, former chief minister and leader of Opposition Bhupinder Singh Hooda said the primary competition is between the Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), leaving no space for ‘vote cutters’.
In an interview with ANI, Hooda, when asked about the Indian National Lok Dal-Bahujan Samaj Party alliance, stated, “The Lok Sabha results have clearly shown that the competition is between Congress and the BJP, with no room for vote cutters.”
Hooda also ruled out the possibility of a Congress alliance with Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). He said, “We have an alliance with the Samajwadi Party too, but at the centrallevel, not in the state. We have no alliance here in Haryana. Congress is fully capable of contesting the elections alone.”
Addressing the issue of the chief ministerial candidate for the upcoming assembly elections, he said, “Neither tired nor retired.
“I had said that I would contest the election this time. I am neither tired nor retired.”
Referring to the 2024 Lok Sabha election results, Hooda pointed out that there has been a decrease in the BJP’s vote percentage and an increase in Congress’s vote share, indicating that people are inclined to form a Congress government in the state.
On speculations about former Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat joining the Congress, he terming it a “hypothetical question”.
Hooda said, “Athletes do not belong to one party alone, they belong to the entire country. If anyone joins the party, you will get to know. We welcome whoever joins the party. It depends on her, but it is a hypothetical question. She should be nominated to Rajya Sabha.”
Hitting out at the government for Agniveer Scheme, Hooda said they are messing with the future of the youth. “We had said that if Congress forms government at Centre, we will reinstate the old recruitment process, which was pensionable,” said Hooda.