Hisar. With the 2029 Haryana Assembly election drawing closer, the Congress party finds itself in a fresh tug‑of‑war over who could head a prospective government.

Senior stalwart advises prudence on premature CM pick

Former Assembly Speaker Kuldeep Sharma has written to the state party leadership, urging them not to announce a chief‑ministerial candidate before the electorate casts its vote. He argues that Congress should contest the election on the strength of a united front rather than rallying behind a single individual.

Risks of hinging the campaign on one face

In his letter addressed to Haryana Congress in‑charge Sanjay Dutt and other senior functionaries, Sharma points to a recent comment by Sachin Pilot that stresses anchoring the campaign on Rahul Gandhi and a broader organisational strategy.

He notes that Haryana’s electorate is deeply divided along caste, community and regional lines. Elevating a single leader too early, Sharma warns, could narrow the party’s appeal and sow unnecessary friction within its ranks.

Dipender Singh Hooda’s name surfaces

Sharma’s missive also flags the name of Dipender Singh Hooda, sparking speculation about his possible ambitions for the chief‑ministerial post.

According to Sharma, pushing Hooda as the party’s 2029 CM front‑runner might alienate other senior figures and strain Congress’s relationships with key community blocs, intensifying intra‑party competition.

A call for a collective, policy‑centric drive

Instead of pre‑emptively deciding the leadership question, Sharma recommends that the party concentrate on strengthening its organisational base and crafting a robust electoral blueprint.

He envisions a campaign built on Congress’s collective leadership, a clear policy agenda, and grassroots mobilisation, leaving the CM decision to be taken after the election, with newly elected MLAs providing input and the central leadership delivering final approval.

Internal rifts resurface

Sharma’s letter has thrust the leadership dilemma back into the spotlight, exposing divergent viewpoints within Haryana Congress even though the 2029 polls are still years away.

The episode raises a broader strategic question for the party: should it centre its next campaign around a charismatic individual or present itself as a cohesive organization under shared leadership?