In Haryana, Congress MLAs Supporting Bhupinder Hooda Seek Change of Guard

Congress sources said the MLAs sought a "strong leadership" for the party in the state, favouring a key role for Bhupinder Hooda and the removal of state party chief Kumari Selja.

The Congress, struggling to douse fires in its Punjab state unit, is now facing another conflagration -- neighbouring Haryana. The party's state unit in Haryana, with its divided loyalties to former Chief Minister Bhupinder Hooda, current party chief Kumari Selja and Randeep Singh Surjewala, appears headed for a clash as Mr Hooda's loyalists sought a "bigger role" for him and wanted Ms Selja out. The talk of more prominence for Mr Hooda comes as the state unit heads for a reshuffle after six years. Today, 19 MLAs have met the KC Venugopal, the general secretary of the party. This was preceded by a meeting on Friday with Vivek Bansal, the party's Haryana in-charge, in Delhi.