Chandigarh: Ahead of being assigned the responsibilities of district units, the aspiring Congress leaders from Haryana are subject to viva voce interviews before the panel of observers appointed by the AICC, New Delhi.As the process of personal interaction cum viva of aspirants is likely to end on Monday, all eyes will be on the AICC observers who will submit their report along with a panel of six aspirants each for 22 districts.Notably, besides being asked to elaborate and justify their strengths and weaknesses, those facing viva voce were also faced with tough queries related to the reasons for the defeat of the Congress party, reasons for non-existing executives for over 11 years, and their viewpoints about differences of opinion among the senior leadership, including former CM Bhupinder Hooda, former Union minister Selja, Rajya Sabha MP Randeep Singh Surjewala, and former Union minister Birender Singh Doomarkhan.All these queries come along with questions like steps to be taken to bring all the Congress leaders together or strengthen the party at the grassroots level, along with efforts to be put in by the aspirants.Interestingly, those who faced the viva voce presented mixed reactions. Some called the exercise fruitful, while others apprehend the situation the candidates were faced with after undergoing the interview with the state and the central screening committee.The final list of candidates of the Congress party, which showed the dominance of the AICC high command as well as former CM Bhupinder Hooda, sidelining the deserving candidates, disheartened many.”This system of personal interviews gives a fair chance to candidates to express themselves, which most of them miss at important occasions. Since this time, the entire proceedings are being carried out in line with guidelines given by Rahul Ji, we are hopeful of fair results,” said one of the aspirants and former district president from a northern Haryana district.Another aspirant, who missed the party ticket after going through a similar process during the assembly elections last year, was skeptical. “This is Congress, and you never know what dominates here. Will it be financial worth or proximity with party leaders that will count, or will loyalty towards the party, leadership qualities, and contribution will be taken into account,” he said.”Observers are purely following the lines given by the party high command as well as Rahul Ji. They have their own way of assessment before preparing and submitting the final panel,” said Jitender Singh Baghel, the AICC co-incharge for Haryana.It may be recalled that for the last over 11 years, the Congress party was functioning without district executives in Haryana. The process to constitute district units was initiated after the visit of Lok Sabha MP Rahul Gandhi to Haryana earlier this month. Rahul gave a deadline of June 30 for completing the process.MSID:: 122143919 413 |
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