Hisar. With the 2029 Haryana Assembly election looming, the state Congress unit is once again locked in a debate over who could steer a future government.

Veteran leader warns against premature CM nomination

Former Assembly Speaker Kuldeep Sharma has penned a formal note to the state party hierarchy, urging them not to announce a chief‑ministerial contender before the electorate heads to the polls. He argues that the Congress should fight on the strength of a united front rather than rallying around a single figure.

Risks of spotlighting a single personality

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

Sharma points out that Haryana’s voter base is deeply split along caste, community and regional lines. Elevating one leader too early, he warns, could narrow the party’s appeal and sow unnecessary friction within its ranks.

Dipender Singh Hooda’s name surfaces

The correspondence also flags the name of Dipender Singh Hooda, fueling speculation about his possible ambitions for the chief‑ministerial slot.

According to Sharma, pushing Hooda as the party’s 2029 CM frontrunner might alienate other senior figures and strain Congress’s ties with various community blocs, intensifying internal rivalry.

A collective, policy‑driven campaign instead

Rather than pre‑emptively settling the leadership question, Sharma suggests the party concentrate on strengthening its organisational base and crafting a solid electoral strategy.

He envisions a campaign built on Congress’s collective leadership, a clear policy agenda, and grassroots mobilisation, leaving the CM decision for after the election, when newly elected MLAs can weigh in and the central leadership can give final approval.

Internal fissures re‑emerge

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

The episode raises a fundamental 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?