Haryana Congress leaders with AICC observer Rita Chaudhary and PCC observer Lal Bahadur Khowal.
| Photo Credit: Special arrangement
GURUGRAM
Almost a week after the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi started the process to appoint party’s district presidents in Haryana, the All India Congress Committee (AICC) and Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) observers on Tuesday began the consultation process in around half-a-dozen districts to put the organisation in place at the district level after a gap of eleven years.
While the party is yet to commence the process in the majority of the 22 districts, the observers for Charkhi Dadri, comprising Assembly constituencies of Dadri and Badhra, on Tuesday wrapped up the process after three-day extensive consultation with senior party leaders, workers and social activists in the district.
“We spoke to the interested candidates in detail about their contributions to the party and the society and the positions, if any, held by them. Following this, we held discussion with the prominent social activists in the district, as they are expected to be unbiased, and sought their feedback on the candidates. We also spoke to the eight former MLAs from the district,” PCC observer Lal Bahadur Khowal told The Hindu.
Eligibility criteria
One of the three PCC observers, Lal Bahadur Khowal, said the committee collected the application forms and would recommend a minimum of three or a maximum of six names to the high command. Anyone between 35 and 55 years of age and having been an active member of the party for the past five years can apply for the post.
One of the candidates, Raju Maan, national convener of All India Kisan Congress, said the announcement by Mr. Gandhi to reinstate the organisation at the district level was a “welcome” step and had filled the grassroots workers with new energy. “The workers were waiting for the organisation to be put in place for long. The party’s focus on the young leadership and a fair selection process is commendable. The fact that district presidents would also have a say in shortlisting candidates for the elections has made this post all the more important,” said the 53-year-old.
Besides the basic details, the two-page application form seeks details about the candidate as whether they ran any educational and medical institute, had ever been the member of any other party and details of their political and social activities.
Congress leader in Nuh, Bashir Mohammadi, however, said the process was not expected to be fully “fair” and “unbiased” and bound to be affected by the opinion and influence of prominent district leaders. “The intentions of Mr. Gandhi are good, but the observers are not expected to find the “right” person in a span of two-three days. They would have to eventually rely on the opinion of the senior leaders in the district,” said Ms. Mohammadi, a former councillor.
Haryana Congress president Udai Bhan said the consultation process was slated to begin on June 10, but the observers had decided on the schedule as per their convenience. “While the process started in Charkhi Dadri two days back, it was kicked off in a few more districts like Faridabad, Sonipat and Sirsa, on Tuesday. The observers have a month’s time at their disposal to complete it,” he said.
On the number of applications received so far, he said, the State unit had no information about it and the details were with the respective district observers.
The party sources, however, said 15-20 applications were received per district on an average.
Published – June 11, 2025 12:12 am IST