Haryana: Hooda hits out at Cong detractors

Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda on Monday hit out at his detractors in the party for below expectation result of Congress in the state assembly elections saying, "Some of our own leaders did not back the party."

Hooda, who was sworn in as the Chief Minister for the second time on Sunday despite stiff opposition from a section of leaders from his own party, told mediapersons, "Complaints have also come that some of our leaders did not back the party."

"You can call it betrayal or anything else but I can only say they should have backed the party," he said.

Conceding that the party had got less number of seats than expected, he said, "As Congress party, we have won the war but might have lost some battles...ultimately we won the war." Hooda attributed the defeat of the party in places to wrong ticket distribution.

"A few places where we lost the battle is because of our own lacunae. You can say that the collective leadership of the state did not advise the high command correctly about ticket distribution," he said.

Hooda's statements came in the wake of Congress securing only 40 seats this time -- 27 less than last time -- in the 90- member Haryana assembly.

After the results were out, a number of party leaders opposed a second term to Hooda, complaining about his style of functioning.

Hooda asked the opposition to play a constructive role in the development of the state.

"The mandate of Indian National Lok Dal led by Om Prakash Chautala is to sit in the opposition. There was nothing like opposition last time. I hope they will now play a constructive role in the development of the state," he said.

The Chief Minister said the mandate is in favour of Congress, its programme and policies and for development and peace.

"It is our duty to give a stable government as per the mandate for the Congress...only Congress party can give a stable government and only that stable government can carry out development of the state," Hooda said.

He said the Congress government during is previous tenure brought development back on the rails in the state through hard work. "We will now run it at an accelerated pace," Hooda added.

Image: Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda