On AAP, Hooda asks how can a party with no base in Haryana claim a seat

The Congress is fully prepared for both the elections in 2024. From November 1, which is also Haryana Day, PCC president Udai Bhan and I will begin our tour of all Vidhan Sabha constituencies of the state, starting from Radaur constituency in Yamunanagar district. We have already covered the Lok Sabha constituencies, and received immense response from the people… I shall also be visiting Rajasthan in the coming weeks to boost the party’s campaign in the state.

Now that the Aam Aadmi Party is part of the INDIA bloc, are you open to an alliance with it in Haryana?

The Congress is fully capable of forming the next government in Haryana. As far as the parliamentary polls are concerned, the decision will be taken by the party high command, once the elections in the five states are over. There has to be a criteria for alliance partners staking claim on a particular seat. If a particular party does not have any base in a constituency, on what basis can it stake a claim? By getting a few thousand votes in a constituency, one can’t stake a claim for contesting the Lok Sabha seat.

You said that if voted to power, you will have four deputy chief ministers. Why?

This is nothing new. I made this announcement ahead of the 2019 polls too. Then too, I had said that I will have four deputy chief ministers, a Brahmin, a Dalit, an OBC and a fourth from a different community. What is wrong with different castes or communities getting representation in leadership?

Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar says you are dividing people on caste lines.

It is the BJP that indulges in divisive politics by pitting one community against another. The Congress doesn’t do caste-based politics. We are not dividing people on the basis of caste, but showering our love on people from all castes and communities. We are the ones who are spreading love, not hatred.

Your take on a caste census?

It is for everybody to see what (Bihar CM) Nitish Kumar did. Once the Congress forms the government in Haryana, we shall also hold a caste census. There is a large population of backward classes (in the state)… The exact numbers of the different OBC groups need to be known so that governments can formulate adequate policies for their uplift and welfare. The poor and downtrodden who are not only economically but also socially backward need to be brought on a par with other castes.

Your top promises to the people of Haryana?

The first thing we shall do on forming the government is to shut down three anti-people portals of this government — one for property IDs, one for Parivar Pehchan Patra and one for Meri Fasal Mera Byora. All these are mere tools to harass people, especially farmers, who are made to stand in long queues from morning till evening, while incorrect data is fed, depriving them of their legitimate rights. They are made to keep running from pillar to post to get their details corrected. I have visited several mandis, where farmers are facing a harrowing experience. They are getting at least Rs 300-400 less per quintal of crop than what the government promises them. Earlier, not only did mandis exist, but they also functioned smoothly.