Will Kumari Selja Be Next Haryana CM? Congress' Bhupinder Hooda Drops Hint Ahead Of Result Day

Ahead of the counting of votes for the Haryana Assembly Election 2024, Senior Congress leader and former chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda exuded confidence that his party will form a government in the state with a full majority and affirmed that the high command would decide on the chief minister.

Several exit polls predicted a comfortable majority for the Congress in Haryana, with victory in 50-58 seats out of the 90 seats, crossing the halfway mark. The BJP, seeking a hat-trick of wins in the state, is expected to get 20-28 seats, falling from the 40 seats it won in the 2019 assembly election.

When asked about Kumari Selja, one of the frontrunners for the chief minister’s post in Haryana, Congress leader Hooda remarked that politics is such that one can have aspirations, “but there is a procedure that legislators will give their opinion and high command will decide”.

“It (Chief Minister post) is everyone’s right. This is democracy. Whatever decision the high command takes, we will accept it. She (Kumari Selja) is our senior leader,” Bhupinder Hooda said.

Selja, a prominent Dalit face for the Congress and a five-time MP, on Thursday, hinted that her name is likely to be considered by the top brass for the chief minister’s post.

“There will be some people in the consideration zone and I think Selja will be among them,” she was quoted as saying by news agency ANI. She added that leadership will weigh factors such as seniority and contributions to the party before finalising their decision.

Haryana Election: Exit Polls 2024

The voting for all 90 assembly segments in Haryana concluded on Saturday with BJP aiming to regain its 10-year reign, while Congress seeking to reclaim power.

According to C-Voter, the Congress is projected to win 50-58 seats, while the BJP is expected to win 20-28 seats. The exit poll gives 0-2 seats for JJP+ and none for INLD+ and AAP. It predicts Others will win 10-14 seats.

Likewise, the Peoples Pulse exit poll survey predicted that the Congress is likely to win 49 seats, while it gave the BJP 24 seats. It has predicted one seat for JJP+ and none for INLD+ and AAP. The survey expects Others to get 16 seats.