Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath launched a scathing attack on the Congress and the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) during an election rally in Narwana, Jind district, Haryana, on Sunday. He accused both parties of presiding over an era of rampant corruption while in power in the state.
Adityanath alleged that the “loot” during their tenure was so severe that funds from Hindu temples were misappropriated. “Congress will come to you and give slogans. INLD will also come to you and give casteist and divisive slogans… I want to ask Congress and INLD what they did when they were in power. There was open loot. They took money from Hindu temples,” he said.
In a related development, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini criticised the Congress for its internal discord, particularly highlighting the absence of senior leader Kumari Selja from the assembly campaign. He claimed that the party “does not respect Dalits” and alleged that Selja had faced humiliation despite being a prominent leader.
Saini emphasised, “Kumari Selja is not a small leader, she is a very big leader of Congress, a big leader of Dalits… She is a leader, if she wanted to become the Chief Minister, what crime did she commit? Congress party is stuck in nepotism, they do not think beyond nepotism,” the Chief Minister said on speculation that Kumari Selja may join the BJP.
In response, Congress candidate Brijendra Singh from Uchana Kalan dismissed speculation about Selja potentially leaving the party, asserting that the BJP is “facing frustration” in the upcoming elections. “Kumari Selja is a senior leader who will play a vital role in our campaign. The BJP thrives on lies,” he remarked.
Former Haryana Chief Minister and BJP leader Manohar Lal Khattar did not discount the possibility of Congress leaders switching sides ahead of the elections. When asked about Selja and fellow MP Randeep Singh Surjewala potentially joining the BJP, he said, “It is a world of possibilities, and possibilities cannot be ruled out. You will know everything when the right time comes.”
Voting for the 90-member Haryana Legislative Assembly is scheduled for October 5, with results set to be announced on October 8, alongside those from Jammu and Kashmir.