Deepender Hooda agrees with Kumari Selja, supports Congress' process for CM candidate selection

"This is the process in the Congress party. Nothing is wrong with this. first, the results should come, the Congress government should be formed, and after that, the Congress high command decides," Hooda said.

He expressed optimism about Congress's chances in the upcoming Haryana elections, citing public dissatisfaction with the current BJP government. "The atmosphere is in Congress's favour, and people want to form a Congress government in Haryana. The party will benefit a lot from Ashok Tanwar's joining," he added.

Hooda noted that the public is unhappy with the BJP's ten years of rule, which has led to a "wave of support" for Congress. "Congress is getting very good support from every section and every region," he said.

He then praised Ashok Tanwar, a former Congress leader who recently rejoined the party, and said, "Ashok ji has made his contribution... the Congress party will benefit from that."

Congress leader Ashok Tanwar also reacted to Congress MP Kumari Selja's remark that "the high command cannot ignore Selja."

Speaking to ANI, he said, "The high command doesn't ignore anyone."

Upon returning to the Congress party, Tanwar added, "Today we met Mallikarjun Kharge and took his blessings. This (Congress) is our family, and we will try to make this family stronger to serve the country."

Regarding the Haryana assembly elections, he said, "...the people of Haryana are fully prepared, and I believe that the work that BJP could not do last time, Congress will do this time, and that is to cross 75 seats."

In an earlier interview with ANI, Selja mentioned that the decision would ultimately be made by the Congress high command but added, "I think Selja would be there. Seniority mein, kaam mein, in sab cheezon mein nam aur politics aur ye political decisions ye toh high command dekhega (the high command would look at the seniority, work done, and everything else. These political decisions would be taken by high command."

She said that the party leadership "can't ignore Selja." Dismissing rumours of her joining the BJP, she said, "Selja will not go anywhere, why would Selja go?" She added, "The situation of Congress is really good right now. Rahul Gandhi's yatra made a difference."

Haryana goes to the polls on October 5 to elect its 90-member state assembly, with counting scheduled for October 8. In 2019, the BJP won 40 seats, while Congress secured 30. (ANI)