No Congress MP will be allowed to contest Haryana assembly polls: Deepak Babaria

When the claim of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha member comes, the committee’s approach would be that they should focus on the campaign instead of contesting, said All India Congress Committee (AICC) in-charge of the state Deepak Babaria

Congress MPs from Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha will not be given permission by the party to contest Haryana assembly polls, All India Congress Committee (AICC) in-charge of the state Deepak Babaria said on Wednesday.

All India Congress Committee (AICC) in-charge of the state Deepak Babaria remarks come amid speculation that some senior leaders such as Kumari Selja were keen on contesting the elections. (HT Photo)

Babaria’s remarks come amid speculation that some senior leaders such as Kumari Selja were keen on contesting the elections. He said this as the party’s screening committee, headed by Ajay Maken, met here to deliberate on potential candidates for 90 assembly seats.

Asked about some MPs being interested in contesting the assembly polls in Haryana, Babaria told reporters, “Nobody will be given permission to contest.”

Pressed further on the issue, he said, “To fight elections they will be required to take permission from the Congress president and high command and the broad thinking that is emerging is that no one will be given permission.” “When the claim of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha member comes, the committee’s approach would be that they should focus on the campaign instead of contesting,” he said.