Kumari Selja at her residence, in New Delhi (PTI)
Congress MP Kumari Selja has denied rumours of joining the BJP, reaffirming her loyalty to the Congress ahead of the Haryana elections.
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 said the decision will be taken by the party’s high command.
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 Congress MP Randeep Singh 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.”
#WATCH | Karnal: On being asked will Congress MPs Kumari Selja and Randeep Singh Surjewala join the BJP, Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar says, “It is a world of possibilities and possibilities cannot be ruled out. You will know everything when the right time comes” (20.09) pic.twitter.com/hFS3iV9vu0— ANI (@ANI) September 21, 2024
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.
