New Delhi:

Union minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Sunday said Jawaharlal Nehru became the country’s first prime minister by accident, prompting a sharp rebuke from Congress leader and former Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Hooda.

“In his (Mr Nehru) place, those who deserved the post were Sardar Vallabhai Patel and Dr BR Ambedkar,” MR Khattar said at a gathering in Haryana’s Rohtak.

Responding to the remark, Mr Hooda said the one who himself became an accidental prime minister should not be passing such comments.

VIDEO | “I want to say that Pandit JL Nehru became a prime minister by accident. In his place, someone who deserved it (to become India’s first PM) was Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and Dr BR Ambedkar,” says Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar (@mlkhattar), while addressing a gathering… pic.twitter.com/vJwwlEyGhr

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) January 12, 2025

Speaking at the event, Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar also spoke of the BJP’s role in honouring Dr Ambedkar’s legacy. He said, “The Constitution is our sacred text, and we must always remember the contribution of Dr Ambedkar in shaping it. We must reflect upon it over time. Dr Ambedkar also faced difficulties, for example, after his death, he was not given a place for cremation in Delhi. After the government came into power, the creation of the five holy places associated with Ambedkar’s name was established. There was a great show of respect for Dr Ambedkar during this tenure, which had never happened before.”

The statement came weeks after former prime minister Dr Manmohan Singh died at the age of 92. Following his death, a row ensued over creating a memorial at the cremation site, as has been the practice for all former prime ministers.

VIDEO | “He himself became an accidental chief minister and that’s why he is talking like this,” says Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda (@BhupinderShooda) on Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar’s ‘JL Nehru became PM by accident’ remark.

(Full video available on PTI Videos -… pic.twitter.com/MrAZ9PBs7V

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) January 12, 2025

With the Assembly polls in Delhi set to be held on February 5, Mr Khattar expressed confidence in the BJP securing a victory. “This time, (Arvind) Kejriwal and his party will not be able to form the government in Delhi. BJP is gaining momentum and will perform well,” he had said on Friday.

The BJP in October last year registered a thumping victory in Haryana Assembly polls, as Nayab Singh Saini assumed the chief ministerial post. 

New Delhi:

After the Congress lost the Haryana Assembly elections, Bharatiya Kisan Union spokesperson Rakesh Tikait said on Sunday that former chief minister Bhupinder Hooda’s stubbornness sank the party.

Reacting to a statement by farmer leader Gurnam Singh Charuni, he said, “There was resentment among the farmers. It is not that the farmers did not go with other parties. The farmers voted for every party. There is resentment among the people who joined the movement. Those who did not join the movement are with the government.”

“Elections are fought on a party basis, religion basis and caste basis. People will vote in favour of like-minded parties. A person who is a farmer, a labourer or a shopkeeper will vote for a party he has faith in. They (farmers) all live together in the organisation. If a person starts considering the people of the organisation as being in his favour, then he is wrong,” he added.

The BKU leader also raised questions about discrepancies in EVMs. “You did not understand mathematics. The public has voted…but they (BJP) are the ones who win… Like the sugarcane committee elections are being held in Uttar Pradesh, their (BJP’s) direct game here is to cancel the nominations of the people of the other party and win without election,” he told IANS.

“People in the BJP have become masters of elections… by fighting with sticks, intellect, or by making people fight with each other, they will win the elections. It is their tactic that they have to win the elections,” Mr Tikait said.

“There was definitely something wrong in this election (Haryana), we had said this earlier as well. EVMs are kept somewhere and then when elections are held somewhere else, are the EVMs shown to any party before they are sent to booths? The engineers do all the programme setting… yes, it is all a game of EVMs. You press any button…votes will go to them (BJP),” he claimed. 

Earlier in the day, Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) chief Gurnam Singh Charuni blamed Mr Hooda for the Congress’ defeat in Haryana.

“Mr Hooda is the biggest reason for the Congress’ defeat because he did not compromise with anyone, and all responsibility was placed on him,” he asserted.

Chandigarh:

Senior Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda on Tuesday said the outcome in Haryana was opposite to the atmosphere was in the state.

He also said the results came as a surprise to the party.

The BJP emerged victorious in 48 seats while the Congress won 26 seats and was leading in one seat, according to the Election Commission. The BJP is set to form the government for a third straight time, bucking anti-incumbency and overcoming the setback in Lok Sabha polls when its tally dropped from 10 in 2019 to five seats.

Replying to a question on the results, Mr Hooda told reporters, “The results have left us ‘achambhit’ (stunned) and the BJP must also be ‘achambhit’. These results are opposite to what the atmosphere was in the state.”

“What is the role of ‘tantra’ (system), we will probe. We lost many seats with low margins,” he further said.

“We received complaints from many places as well. The way the delay took place. Anyhow, the AICC will meet the ECI. There is no doubt that these (results) have left us ‘ascharyachakit’ (surprised),” Mr Hooda said.

Earlier in the day, the Congress raised with the Election Commission the issue of an “unexplained slowdown” in updating of results of Haryana elections on the poll watchdog’s website and urged it to direct officials to update accurate figures so that “false news and malicious narratives” can be countered immediately.

Dismissing talk of any factionalism in the party, Mr Hooda said the Congress was united in the elections.

“In a democratic party, anybody may have differences but there cannot be ‘manbhed’,” he said.

On Congress leader Kumari Selja blaming coordination in the party, Mr Hooda asked who was responsible for proper coordination. He then said it was everyone’s job.

Replying to a question on the Congress raising the issues pertaining to EVMs, he said, “There must be something. We received complaints from candidates.” To a query on the consolidation of non-Jat votes in favour of the BJP, he said there was nothing like that.

Asked about his next course of action, Mr Hooda said in a democracy “whatever is the people’s decision, we will accept it”.

On party leader Jairam Ramesh raising doubts over the results, Mr Hooda said, “We will accept it under protest.”

Asked again about the reason behind the defeat, he said the situation at the ground was completely in favour of change. “That is why I am saying, these (results) are surprising.” 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

Congress MP Kumari Selja has confirmed she is a contender for the post of Chief Minister – if her party wins the 2024 Haryana Assembly election. Speaking to NDTV Ms Selja smiled and said, “Yes. I am among the contenders to be Chief Minister… but the final decision is with the party high command.”

Ms Selja also said the people of Haryana “know their future is (with the) Congress”. “The electorate looks at their future… and they know their future is Congress,” she said Tuesday morning, confident that Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra and effort by workers on the ground will translate into a win.

On her party’s chances of upsetting the Bharatiya Janata Party – which is bidding for a third consecutive win in the Hindi heartland state – Ms Selja said, “It is natural to have fatigue (referring to the anti-incumbency vote)… there was also the BJP’s misrule. That was a big factor.”

The Congress had raced into an early lead as postal ballots and early votes were counted, but it was soon pegged back, with the ruling party then crossing the halfway mark soon after.

The party, though, remains confident it will eventually prevail. Ms Selja said, “As counting progresses, we will win more than 60 Assembly seats and Congress will form the government.”

The race to form the Haryana government is, of course, the big story.

Kumari Selja vs Bhupinder Hooda?

But there is a subplot within the Congress camp, with senior leaders Ms Selja and Bhupinder Hooda going head-to-head to be named Chief Minister. Mr Hooda is raring for a third term; he made it clear he is “neither tired nor retired” but also said the party HQ, and its elected MLAs, will take the call.

Ms Selja – who won the Sirsa Lok Sabha seat in the April-June election – was earlier more circumspect, having told NDTV last month, “Why should I ‘stake claim’? Why should it be about ‘staking claim’?”

READ | “Haryana Can Give Me Space”: Kumari Selja, Day After Exit Polls

She suggested the choice should reflect “who works hard and is committed to the people”.

There was significant buzz in Haryana political circles last month after Ms Selja seemed to be in a funk; a prominent state leader with influence over the Dalit vote, she was not seen campaigning.

There was speculation she was unhappy with the way candidates were chosen; these seemed to favour loyalists of Bhupinder Hooda. She was also unhappy, it was said, at being taken for granted.

One of the issues flagged was that Ms Selja had made it clear she wanted to contest the state poll, but that was overruled by the party HQ and she was fielded from (and won) the Sirsa Lok Sabha seat.

She later told NDTV, “I wanted to contest… party didn’t allow. That is ok…”, but then warned of “issues… serious issues” that need to be resolved within the Congress’ state unit.

All of this led the BJP to declare she had been “disrespected”.

There was also an ‘invitation’, proffered by ex-Chief Minister ML Khattar, who declared “any self-respecting person” in her shoes would consider their next steps.

However, speaking to NDTV Ms Selja laughed off such talk and invited the BJP, instead, to “first set their own house in order”. “How much respect do they give (to Dalits) …”

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New Delhi:

Former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Hooda has said since the Congress went out of power a decade ago, the state has been on a downward spiral. Enumerating the sectors where the Congress left Haryana in the Number One spot, he told NDTV in an exclusive interview that it was per capita income, investment, employment, law and order and sports.

“Now, Haryana is Number One in unemployment. Law and order is going out of their hands. The Social Progressive Index has declared Haryana as unsafe unsecured state. And our team of women wrestlers, who brought name and fame to the country, are sitting on protest in Jantar Mantar and still not getting justice,” he told NDTV.

Last but not the least are the farmers and government employees, “all of whom are on protest mode”.

Regarding the pension of government employees, he said the BJP-led government at the Centre should have reverted to the Old Pension Scheme that was in place before the New Pension Scheme was brought in by the government led by Atal  Bihari Vajpayee in 2004.

Asked whether he welcomed the new UPS scheme the government is bringing in, the response was emphatic. “They should have gone for the OPS,” which, he said, the Congress has promised to the people in Haryana.

The other big issue in this election is that of farmers, who form the largest voting bloc in the state. Last time, the new outfit JJP (Jannayak Janta Party) of Dushyant Chautala had scooped up 14 per cent of votes eating into the Congress share, and won 10 seats.   

But since then, the party has faced the brunt of the farmers’ anger, It failed to win a single seat in the Lok Sabha election. The party has blamed it on the anti-incumbency against the BJP, with which its partnership has ended.

Mr Hooda indicated that it was not a surprise.

“In 2014 and 2024, the BJP promised they will be doubling the income of farmers by 2022. But what happened? The income of farmers has not doubled. But the cost of input has gone up manifold,” he said. As example, he cited the cost of diesel, fertiliser, and pesticides.
Haryana will have a single-phase election on October 1. The votes will be counted on October 4.

In 2019, the BJP had won 40 of the state’s 90 assembly seats and formed government with the JJP, which won 10. The Congress won 31 seats.

Chandigarh:

Promising one lakh permanent jobs soon after the announcement of Assembly elections in Haryana, two-time Chief Minister and Congress leader Bhupinder Hooda said the poll results on October 4 the ruling BJP would be out of the state.

Addressing the media with state party President Chaudhary Udaibhan, Bhupinder Hooda said the people have made up their minds to oust the BJP from Haryana and bring a Congress government.

“The Congress has also prepared a roadmap for the work of the upcoming government. As soon as the government is formed, one lakh permanent recruitments will be done within a year. Jobs will be given on the basis of merit by eliminating paper leaks and recruitment mafia from Haryana. Any kind of negligence in the recruitment process and its transparency will not be tolerated. Strict laws will be implemented against irregularities in recruitment,” he said.

Bhupinder Hooda said the Congress has made promises like a Rs 6,000 pension to the elderly, One-Rank Pension (OPS) to employees, gas cylinder for Rs 500, 300 units of free electricity.

“Soon the party’s manifesto will be released which will have a complete roadmap of the work of the government for five years. The Congress will implement its announcements with full commitment and will free Haryana from unemployment, corruption, crime and drug addiction,” he said.

“Despite being in the opposition for 10 years, the Congress will take its work to the public, while the BJP itself has nothing to tell except its failures. This government spent the entire 10 years in corruption-causing portal schemes like property ID, family ID, and Meri Fasal Mera Byora. That is why today, instead of counting its own works, the ruling BJP is asking questions from the Opposition Congress.

“On October 1, the public will answer all the questions and atrocities of the BJP with the blow of votes,” he stated.

Chaudhary Udaibhan said the Congress is fully prepared for the elections as the party has been continuously among the people as a responsible opposition for the last five years.

“It is clear from the tremendous support of the public to all the programs of the party that the people have made up their mind to overthrow the corrupt rule of the BJP,” he said.

He said the workers’ conferences being organised by the party to thank them for their efforts during the Lok Sabha elections, automatically turned into big public meetings.

“Earlier, the whole of Haryana and the media witnessed the huge crowds of people in the programs of Congress’s Jan Milan Samaroh, Hath Se Hath Jodo Abhiyan and Opposition Aapke Samaksh,” he said.

“Now, thousands of people are gathering everywhere in MP Deepender Singh Hooda’s ‘Haryana Maange Hisaab’ padayatra. Now the slogan on everyone’s lips in Haryana is Haath Badlega Halaat, Congress se hi Aas,” and expressed confidence that the Congress government is going to be formed with more than a two-third majority.

Answering questions from the reporters, Hooda said Haryana had developed in all directions during the tenure of Congress.

“The Congress freed businessmen from inspectors and hooliganism, but the BJP protected criminals and got businessmen shot at,” he added.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Chandigarh:

In the middle of the Lok Sabha election, dramatic developments have reduced the BJP-led state government to a minority in Haryana Assembly. The Congress is now racing against time to make the most of the situation and cobble together the numbers required to topple the Nayab Singh Saini government months before state polls.

Behind the crisis is the decision of three Independent MLAs to switch from the BJP camp to the Congress side last evening. MLAs Sombir Sangwan (Dadri), Randhir Singh Gollen (Pundri) and Dharampal Gonder (Nilokheri) announced their decision to withdraw support to the BJP government at a press meet in Rohtak yesterday. They were accompanied by Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly, Congress’s Bhupinder Singh Hooda, and state Congress chief Udai Bhan.

Addressing the media, Mr Hooda said, “The government should resign. President’s rule should be imposed in the state and elections held. This is an anti-people government.”

Chief Minister Saini, who took over the top post just about two months back, had a guarded response. “When I heard about it, I knew that moment the Congress is trying to fulfil their wishes. Everyone has a wish. But the people know. They know the Congress has got nothing to do with the wishes of people, but is only focused on fulfilling their wishes,” he said. The Chief Minister did not elaborate on how the BJP plans to counter the threat to its government.

In a significant remark, Haryana Speaker Gian Chand Gupta has said a majority test had earlier been conducted on the demand of Mr Hooda and there is no need to conduct another for six months. The Nayab Singh Saini government cleared a trust vote soon after he took over in March.

The JJP Factor

Adding a twist to the Haryana political upheaval, the BJP’s former ally Jannayak Janta Party (JJP) has offered support to the Congress. JJP leader and former Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala has said the government has lost the trust of the people. “We will support a move to bring down the government. The Congress has to decide if it will make a move or not,” he said. This comes less than two months after the BJP parted ways with JJP, which has 10 MLAs, and cobbled together enough numbers to cross the majority mark.

How The Numbers Stack Up

The 90-seat Haryana Assembly currently has 88 members. This means the majority mark is 45. The BJP has 40 MLAs of its own and is supported by three out of 6 Independent MLAs. This makes it 43, two short of the magic figure. The Congress has 30 legislators and three Independents now support it. If the JJP backs it, the Congress will have the support of 43 MLAs. This leaves two MLAs — one from Haryana Lokhit Party and the other from INLD.

The Chautala Family Factor

An interesting subplot playing out amid the Haryana government crisis is linked to the Chautala clan that once dominated the state’s political landscape before a string of poll setbacks, convictions and a split reduced INLD to a one-man party in the Assembly. Currently, INLD general secretary Abhay Chautala is the party’s lone MLA in the Assembly. Now that the JJP, led by Mr Chautala’s estranged nephew Dushyant Chautala has offered support to the Congress, the question is will Abhay Chautala remain on the same side or join ranks with BJP.

Rohtak (Haryana):

After three independent MLAs withdrew their support to the Nayab Singh Saini-led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Haryana, Leader of Opposition of the Haryana Legislative Assembly Bhupinder Singh Hooda said that the state government has lost the moral right to be in power and President’s Rule should be imposed.

“Three independent MLAs who had supported BJP government in the state have withdrawn their support today and have decided to support Congress. They have taken this decision as per public sentiment which is against the state government,” Mr Hooda said speaking to ANI on Tuesday.

On being asked whether the state government is at risk of losing its majority in the House, the senior Congress leader said, “The state government has lost the moral right to be in power. This government should resign and President’s Rule should be imposed in the state so that elections can be held independently.”

Mr Hooda said that the support of the Independent MLAs will strengthen their campaign for the Lok Sabha elections.

“They will be supporting the Congress. In the parliamentary elections, they will be supporting the Congress from outside. This will benefit the Congress,” Hooda said.

Meanwhile, BJP leader Jawahar Yadav assured that the Haryana government has no threat as it has the required majority.

“There is no danger to the Haryana government. Even after the three independent MLAs who have said that they have withdrawn support from the Haryana government, the Nayab Singh Saini government has the required majority. This can only be proven in the Vidhan Sabha. Bhupinder Singh Hooda of the Congress is only misleading people,” Mr Yadav said speaking to ANI on Tuesday.

Mr Yadav said that conducting a trust vote in the Assembly in the next six months is difficult but they will be able to prove their majority if needed.

“On March 13, Nayab Singh Saini won the trust vote in the state assembly. Another trust vote within the next six months is difficult. If such a situation arises we will prove our majority,” the BJP leader said.

Hitting out at the Leader of Opposition, Mr Yadav said, “I would like to challenge Bhupinder Singh Hooda to come to the Assembly and prove his majority. The BJP government has the required majority and our Chief Minister is Nayab Singh Saini.”

Three Independent MLAs withdrew their support to the BJP in Haryana amid the Lok Sabha polls and within two months of Nayab Singh Saini taking over as Chief Minister of the state.

The three MLAs — Sombir Sangwan (Charkhi Dadri), Randhir Golan (Pundri),and Dharampal Gondar (Nilokheri) – said they have decided to withdraw support from the Saini government and extend support to the Congress during the elections.

In the House of 90, the BJP has 39 MLAs, the Congress has 30, the Jan Nayak Janata Party has 10, the Haryana Lokhit Party (HLP) has one, and the Indian National Lok Dal has one, along with seven Independents.

The BJP which had 41 MLAs initially was reduced to 39 when the Karnal and Rania seats fell vacant following the resignation of two MLAs.

Earlier six out of seven Independent MLAs used to support the BJP. With three Independents withdrawing their support, the BJP at present, has the support of three Independents and one HLP MLA, making it a government of 43 MLAs.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)