Interacting with mediapersons at a press conference held here on Tuesday, Kumari Selja, who has been nominated as a Rajya Sabha member from Haryana, said she saw the move as a "new challenge".
Q: How do you react to your nomination to the Rajya Sabha? Do you think it is a promotion?
A:Mujhe kal raat ko hi bataaya gaya ke aap ko Rajya Sabha mein jaana hai, toh maine kaha ki jo bhi party high command ka decision hoga, theek hai. Pehle ki tarah hi hai, party ki sewa karenge, aur sewa karenge (I was informed only last night that I am to go to the Rajya Sabha, to which I agreed. We will continue to work as always and serve the party). I think it is a promotion, as it is a new challenge and new responsibility.
Q: Can this be seen as you playing safe in the upcoming polls?
A: Playing safe? Please understand that my nomination to the Rajya Sabha is not my decision. It is the party high command's decision, so I cannot really comment on it.
Q: One of the surveys regarding the upcoming polls has said the Congress has poor results in store. Could this be reason …..
A: We all know that these surveys are one's own interpretations, but rest assured, the Congress will win all 10 seats in Haryana, as we will go to people with all the welfare works the Congress has undertaken in all these years. We have a solid leadership at the Centre and the state, and have worked for people. I am confident that people will appreciate it.
Q: But there are talks that there are not many Lok Sabha-ticket seekers this time, and groupism exists within the Congress….
A:(laughs) Aap dekhna, lambi lines langengi (you will see that there will be long queues). Time will tell. Let me also assure you that there is no groupism in the Congress, though there are leaders who have their own opinions about various issues, and it is good. We are good and loyal soldiers of the party and will go to hustings united.
Q: You have often said your constituency Ambala had been neglected by the Hooda government. Do you still hold the same view?
A: It is true that I had said what I felt, from appropriate platforms within the party and people's platforms, but now it is election time and we will work for the party in a united manner.
Q: Do you think that by sending you to the Rajya Sabha, you have been kept away from your constituency?
A: I have never left Ambala. I served as its MP for two terms, and will never leave it. About keeping me away, mujhe toh aap jaante hi hain… (laughs, implying all know shifting her is not that easy)
Q: Who else would you like to see getting the RS seat, if it were not you?
A: Ishwar Singh, as he has served only once, while Dr Ram Prakash has been RS member twice. I will still back his name for a Lok Sabha ticket.
Q: One of the surveys regarding the upcoming polls has said the Congress has poor results in store. Could this be reason …..
A: We all know that these surveys are one's own interpretations, but rest assured, the Congress will win all 10 seats in Haryana, as we will go to people with all the welfare works the Congress has undertaken in all these years. We have a solid leadership at the Centre and the state, and have worked for people. I am confident that people will appreciate it.
Q: But there are talks that there are not many Lok Sabha-ticket seekers this time, and groupism exists within the Congress….
A:(laughs) Aap dekhna, lambi lines langengi (you will see that there will be long queues). Time will tell. Let me also assure you that there is no groupism in the Congress, though there are leaders who have their own opinions about various issues, and it is good. We are good and loyal soldiers of the party and will go to hustings united.
Q: You have often said your constituency Ambala had been neglected by the Hooda government. Do you still hold the same view?
A: It is true that I had said what I felt, from appropriate platforms within the party and people's platforms, but now it is election time and we will work for the party in a united manner.
Q: Do you think that by sending you to the Rajya Sabha, you have been kept away from your constituency?
A: I have never left Ambala. I served as its MP for two terms, and will never leave it. About keeping me away, mujhe toh aap jaante hi hain… (laughs, implying all know shifting her is not that easy)
Q: Who else would you like to see getting the RS seat, if it were not you?
A: Ishwar Singh, as he has served only once, while Dr Ram Prakash has been RS member twice. I will still back his name for a Lok Sabha ticket.