GURUGRAM: Amid speculation that Congress might shuffle key positions in its faction-ridden state unit, the party’s state president, Ashok Tanwar, on Monday launched the campaign for the Lok Sabha and assembly elections and inaugurated the new party office in Gurugram. Congress leaders also spoke about the need to strengthen the party’s organisation structure in the state.There has been talk that former chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and MLA Kuldeep Bishnoi are among frontrunners for post of state president and legislature party.Asked about the demand by a section of Congress members to appoint a new chief in Haryana, Tanwar said such demand were being raised for past four years now but has not been entertained by the party brass in Delhi. In an oblique reference to the factionalism within, he said senior Congress members should work to defeat political rivals like BJP, INLD and others instead of demanding removal of the party’s state chief. “Internal politics keeps on happening, but all leaders will work together for a Congress victory in the upcoming elections under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi,” he said.Hooda said he was unaware about any plan to reshuffle the party organisation in the state. “I have no information as of now. If it has to be done, it will be done by AICC national president Rahul Gandhi,” he said. Hooda, however, admitted the party should work to strengthen itself at the grassroots. “We don’t have block samiti- and zila samiti-level officials. In such a scenario, the organisation suffers,” he said.The factionalism within Congress became a headline discussion in state politics and within the party after Randeep Singh Surjewala, the party’s national spokesperson, voiced his frustration after his defeat in the Jind bypoll. Surjewala accused some Congress leaders of not supporting him. He had said the party high command would analyse the bypoll result and identify those who had played a role in his defeat.“Some serious allegations have been levelled by Surjewala. He must disclose the names of such leaders,” said Congress leader Capt Ajay Yadav. He said all leaders were present during his nomination and only Surjewala can tell the names. “The party high command should be made aware of such leaders, if there are some,” he said, adding this issue must be addressed before the elections.

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