Haryana Congress senior leader Ajay Yadav resigns
- In Reports
- 10:43 PM, Oct 17, 2024
- Myind Staff
Just over a week after Congress faced a significant defeat in Haryana, senior leader Ajay Singh Yadav has resigned from his position as President of the OBC Department. "I have sent my resignation letter to Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge’s ji from Chairman AICC OBC Department and also from primary membership of Indian National Congress party."
In an interview, Ajay Singh Yadav described his appointment as OBC Department President as merely symbolic, calling it an "eyewash." He expressed frustration over the lack of OBC representation from South Haryana in key party bodies such as the Congress Working Committee (CWC), Central Election Committee (CEC) and Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee. Speaking to news agency ANI, Yadav further criticised the party's neglect of key districts like Gurgaon, Mahendragarh, Rewari and Faridabad, stating that this disregard significantly damaged the Congress's prospects in the region.
BJP's Amit Malviya criticised the Congress in light of Rahul Gandhi's ongoing attacks on the NDA government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the issue of OBC representation at the Centre. Malviya pointed out the irony, stating that while Gandhi frequently speaks about caste and social justice, he has failed to ensure proper respect and representation for the backward classes within his own party.
"Capt Ajay Singh Yadav, Chairman AICC OBC, criticised Rahul Gandhi and Congress leadership for not giving adequate representation to SC, ST and OBCs in the CWC and CEC. He has now resigned. Forced?" he said.
In the wake of the Congress's defeat in Haryana, Ajay Singh Yadav attributed the loss to several internal factors and key leaders. He highlighted errors in ticket distribution, the centralisation of power and the absence of OBC representation in crucial decision-making bodies as major contributors to the party's setback.
"I am the OBC Chairman, and in that capacity, I believe that the OBC Chairman, along with SC-ST leaders, should be invited to the Extended Working Committee meetings. You can't compare the SC-ST and OBC departments with others, such as the Hindi or Professional Departments. These things need to change with time, and the party needs to evolve its strategies and functioning," Yadav said during a discussion with a TV channel.
Ajay Singh Yadav, who has held positions in both the Haryana and Central governments, revealed that he had recommended 15 to 16 candidates for tickets in the assembly elections; however, only 2 to 3 of those names were approved. He cautioned that if members of his community perceived that he lacked influence within the party, they would be unlikely to support the Congress.
"There are 11 seats in our area (the Ahirwal region), which is dominated by Yadavs. We won only one seat there, and that too went to a Gurjar candidate, Manju Chaudhary. Six of our candidates were Yadavs, and we lost all six. In Madhya Pradesh, they (BJP) made a Yadav the Chief Minister. They introduced a new model. Mohan Yadav came here to campaign."
The former union minister suggested that he had no power despite heading an important department. "You (Congress central leadership) should prioritise OBCs, and give power to the OBC chairman. Now, the election is due in Maharashtra. I'll go there. As OBC Chairman, if I recommend 10 winning candidates and three or four get tickets, only then will people align with me," the Congress leader said.
Yadav pointed out that the Congress Working Committee (CWC), Central Election Committee (CEC) and the Extended Committee currently lack any OBC representation from Haryana. He emphasised the need for representatives from Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), minorities and OBCs to be included in the Extended Working Committee to ensure better representation within the party.
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