Tanwar says no thanks to Hooda on conditional campaigning

Pradeep Sharma

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 28

In a development that may intensify rampant factionalism in the Congress, HPCC chief Ashok Tanwar has rejected former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda’s offer of “conditional campaigning” in Punjab.

“Asha Kumari, the Punjab affairs in charge of the Congress, had already sought our support in the election campaign in the run-up to the February 2017 Assembly elections….All Congressmen should vigorously campaign in Punjab, so that the Congress forms the next government in the state,” Tanwar told The Tribune on the sidelines of a function organised as part of the 132nd foundation day of the Congress here today.

Tanwar, whose relations with Hooda seems to have reached a point of no return in the wake of the October 6 attack on him allegedly by Hooda supporters, asserted that this was no time to raise bilateral contentious issues such as the SYL canal water, Chandigarh as Haryana’s capital and separate high court for Haryana. “The Congress victory in Punjab elections was more important, as we will be able to negotiate better with our party’s government after the elections,” Tanwar asserted.

Hooda recently kicked up a controversy by asserting that he would only campaign in the Punjab if he was given a public assurance by Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) chief Capt Amrinder Singh that Punjab would give Haryana its due share of the SYL canal waters after coming to power. However, Capt Amrinder Singh yesterday snubbed Hooda saying that the SYL waters were more important for Punjab than Hooda’s offer of “conditional campaigning”.

Meanwhile, the function organised by the HPCC to mark Congress’ foundation day turned out to be an out-and-out Tanwar affair, with all MLAs and other leaders of the the Hooda faction conspicuous by their absence.

Earlier, Tanwar also detailed the agitational programme against demonetisation, including gherao of the DC offices on January 6 and 7, which would culminate into a national conference on January 11.