Selja’s silence builds suspense, all eyes on Kharge’s Ambala rally now

Chandigarh: Suspense is continuing over former Union minister and Sirsa MP Kumari Selja refraining from campaigning for the Congress in Haryana after the party released its list of candidates on Sept 12.
Now, all eyes are on Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge’s public meeting in Ambala City on Monday, where he will campaign in favour of Nirmal Singh, a confidant of former CM Bhupinder Hooda and the party candidate from Ambala City.Though the party has fielded Selja’s recommendation from Ambala Cantonment, there is no clarity on whether she is going to share the stage with Kharge and bête noire Hooda.
The former Haryana Congress chief’s supporters in Ambala have also expressed ignorance about any message from Selja or high command. Upset over being ignored in distribution of tickets, especially after AICC dropped leaders she had recommended, Selja has gone into hibernation. A casteist remark by an elderly man, believed to be linked to a Congress leaders, is also said to have fuelled the issue.
Her silence has also created unrest among a major section of Dalit voters linked to Congress and given an opportunity to BJP leaders to take on Congress while referring to Selja.
Contrary to the belief of some Congress leaders that Selja will join campaigning any day, there is also talk of Selja planning to desert the party on the lines of Kiran Choudhary.
The only person who are in touch with her are those who have been fielded by Congress on her recommendation.
On Saturday, Union ministers Manohar Lal Khattar and Arjun Ram Meghwal had categorically mentioned Selja and her silence in Congress. The BJP is also using casteist remarks by Pirthi Singh (75) to slam the party, even as he has issued a public apology.
Selja’s recommendations which were turned down included Rohit Jain in Ambala City, Dr Ajay Chaudhary in Narnaund and a person in Uklana. As AICC outrightly ignored her stance and chose to pick candidates recommended by Hooda, this led to her displeasure, said sources.
On his part, Hooda has been trying to make public statements to woo Selja. During a recent press briefing, he had described Selja as a senior party colleague and said anyone disrespecting senior leaders did not have a place in the Congress.
Selja continues to be inaccessible for comment. It is learnt she is camping at her residence in New Delhi. Efforts made to reach out to HPCC president Udai Bhan and AICC general secretary incharge Deepak Babaria too failed.
When contacted, Congress spokesperson Kewal Dhingra outrightly ruled out any issues related to Selja. “She is very much part of campaigning. As far as rival parties are concerned, they are resorting to this as all their tactics to be in power have failed and they are on their way out,” he said.