• Source:JND
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Haryana Congress CM Candidates:  Amid strong voter turnout in the one-phase Haryana Assembly elections being held today for 90 seats, both the BJP and Congress expressed confidence in winning the poll battle. Over 25% of votes were cast in the first five hours, signalling an above-average turnout. Congress leaders suggested that the high voter participation indicates a desire for change, raising anticipation about the party's potential pick for Chief Minister.

While former Chief Minister Bhupendra Singh Hooda remained the leading contender for the post, Congress general secretary and MP Kumari Selja and party spokesperson and Rajya Sabha MP Randeep Surjewala have also thrown their hats in the ring.

'Will Not Ignore Selja'

Though terming it a matter of choice for the party high command, Kumari Selja on Saturday hinted at her candidature, saying that nothing is wrong in having hopes for the post of Chief Minister. She has been vocal about her candidature in the past as well.

“It is only for the high command to answer, and they will have to decide (about the CM candidate). There will be some people in the consideration zone and I think Selja will be among them. The high command will look at seniority, work and all these things, so the high command will not ignore Selja in this. My commitment to the party has never been in question, this is one thing they know and they are sure of,” Selja, who was also invited by BJP to join their ranks, said in an interview with ANI on Friday.

'Everyone Aspires To Become CM' - Surjewala

While Surjewala was not active in state politics as much as Hooda or Selja, he also placed his bet on the table, saying that everyone aspired to become a chief minister.

"Who will become the CM? Everyone aspires to become a chief minister," Surjewala told Indian Express.

"(Sirsa MP Kumari) Selja ji also wants to be one, why not? She is my elder sister. Chaudhary Bhupinder Singh Hooda would also like to be the CM. Besides the three of us, some other party workers can also have this aspiration. But the final decision will be taken by Rahul Gandhi ji and Mallikarjun Kharge ji. They will decide, and whatever decision they take will be acceptable to all of us," Surjewala, who is credited with the party's win in Karnataka polls, had said to the newspaper.

Hoodas In The Fray  

Exuding confidence of a huge poll win over the Bharatiya Janata Party, the strongest CM face candidate, Bhupinder Singh Hooda, also reaerated that the party high command would make a decision on the question after the elections.

Meanwhile, Bhupinder Hooda's son and party's young and dynamic face, Deepender Singh Hooda, is also being deemed a candidate for the choice of Chief Ministerial berth.