Congress MPs from Haryana, MLAs discuss organisational polls

Congress MPs from Haryana and a majority of the party's state legislators here discussed the forthcoming organisational elections at a meeting here today.
None of the party's 17 legislators were present in a meeting called by Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee president Ashok Tanwar last month to discuss organisational elections.
Eleven MLAs, who had skipped the meeting on May 30 and have been pushing for Tanwars removal as the party's state chief, had held a press conference and came out openly in support of Bhupinder Singh Hooda.
Six other legislators were not present in Chandigarh.
Eleven MLAs, majority of whom are supporters of Hooda, attended the meeting here today presided by state returning officer Pradeep Jain.

However, Congress Legislature Party leader Kiran Choudhary and MLAs Kuldeep Bishnoi and Renuka Bishnoi were not present in the meeting.

The meet was attended by former chief minster Hooda and other party legislators, including Karan Singh Dalal, Geeta Bhukkal and MPs, including Deepinder Singh Hooda and Selja Kumari.
After the meeting, Jain said, "All things pertaining to the organisational election were discussed and views of the members who attended it were sought."
Tanwar said the organisational polls are scheduled to be held between September and October this year.
About Surjewala not attending the meeting, Jain said, "Being the in-charge of the AICC's communication department, he was busy in Delhi."

"We have to strengthen the Congress and defeat the BJP in the next elections in Haryana," Tanwar told reporters.
Asked if there was a heated argument between Tanwar and MLAs loyal to him, Hooda said, "The meeting was held in a cordial atmosphere, there was no heated exchange."
Tanwar also played down any difference between him and Hooda saying, "There are no differences between Hooda and me."
Notably, over the past few months, differences between Tanwar and Hooda factions have deepened in the state.