'No Question Of It...': Congress's Kumari Selja Rejects BJP Rumours Amid Haryana Rumblings

Congress MP Kumari Selja on Monday denied reports suggesting she is set to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Talking exclusively to News18, Selja, ahead of the Haryana assembly polls, said she was still a part of the Congress party and that there was “no question” of joining the BJP.

This comes following Selja’s noticeable absence from critical party events, including the manifesto launch led by party chief Mallikarjun Kharge. Also, former Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar had invited Selja to join the BJP.

“I am very much in Congress, there is no question of me joining the BJP,” Selja told News18.

“Such rumours are being spread by people who are scared (of election results),” she said, adding, “I will soon be seen in election campaigning.”

Selja also exuded confidence in the Congress party’s win in the Haryana elections and said, “We are going to win with a big margin and will form a government.”

On a question about the next Chief Minister of Haryana, Selja, who won from the Sirsa seat in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, said the decision will be taken by the party’s high command.

Speaking to news agency ANI, Kumari Selja said, “It’s election time and hence they are doing this, otherwise the BJP has no soft corner for leaders of Congress, but these things have no meaning. Whatever I am today is because of Congress and I have served it all my life.”

“For years, the party workers have been working on the ground and hence they have expectations. When they don’t get space, they go to other places in search of it, but I will say that we are in Congress and we will work for the party. Congress will form the government and we together will form that,” she said.

Meanwhile, the top leadership of the Congress party has asked all Haryana Congress leaders to fight and campaign together. Sources also said Congress MPs Randeep Singh Surjewala and Kumari Selja will be given equal space.

KHATTAR’s INVITE TO JOIN BJP

Amid reports of a rift within the Haryana Congress, Khattar, slamming the party leadership, on September 20, said, “Our Dalit sister (Kumari Selja), after all, from the Dalit community and the Scheduled Caste community, deserves care and respect from everyone. Humiliating someone is forbidden in society. If someone stands up against you in a panchayat, they are still given consideration. But instead, you all have cursed the community, while she sits silently. A large section of society is now wondering what to do, and people are troubled by them; we have included them with us. We are ready to take them.”

On being asked will Kumari Selja and Surjewala join the BJP, Khattar said, “It is a world of possibilities and possibilities cannot be ruled out. You will know everything when the right time comes.”

Earlier, former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda had acknowledged some tensions within the party and had said while aspirations and differences exist among party leaders, the Congress is contesting the elections unitedly.

Selja and Hooda are conducting separate campaigns for the Haryana assembly polls, scheduled for October 5.

While Hooda’s faction draws votes from among the dominant Jat community, Selja draws backing from the Dalit community.

The votes for the Haryana elections will be counted on October 8.

CONGRESS’S ATTACK

Congress leader Pawan Khera has slammed the BJP over Khattar’s invite, saying that the party will soon expose the saffron party leaders.

“Manohar Lal Khattar had contacted our leaders when he was removed from his chair. Our leaders will expose him very soon,” Khera said.

MALLIKARJUN KHARGE TO MISS PARTY CAMPAIGN

Meanwhile, Mallikarjun Kharge will miss the party’s campaign in Haryana on Monday after being advised rest. Kharge was scheduled to address two election rallies in Ambala city and Gharaunda of Karnal district on Monday.

“The Congress president is unable to travel today because he has been advised rest. Both rallies in Haryana (which Kharge was to address) will be addressed by state leaders,” a party leader said in a statement.

The Congress is looking to wrest power from the BJP, which has governed the state for the past 10 years.