Hisar. With the 2029 Haryana Legislative Assembly election looming, the state unit of the Indian National Congress is again embroiled in a debate over who should steer a prospective government.

Senior figure warns against pre‑emptive CM nomination

Former Assembly Speaker Kuldeep Sharma has written to the party’s state hierarchy, cautioning against the premature anointment of a chief‑ministerial candidate. He contends that the Congress should present itself as a cohesive force rather than rallying voters around a single personality.

Risks of spotlighting one individual

In his letter addressed to Haryana Congress in‑charge Sanjay Dutt and other senior functionaries, Sharma references a recent comment by Sachin Pilot that underscores the necessity of anchoring the campaign on Rahul Gandhi and a broader organisational vision.

He points out that Haryana’s electorate is deeply segmented along caste, community and regional lines. Elevating a lone leader too early, he warns, could narrow the party’s appeal and spark internal friction.

Dipender Singh Hooda mentioned in the missive

The correspondence also names Dipender Singh Hooda, fueling speculation about his ambitions for the chief‑ministerial post.

Sharma argues that pushing Hooda as the definitive 2029 CM candidate might alienate other senior figures and disturb the party’s delicate balance with various voter blocs, intensifying intra‑party rivalry.

A call for a policy‑first, collective campaign

Instead of fixing the leadership question now, Sharma proposes that the party concentrate on strengthening its organisational base and crafting a comprehensive electoral strategy.

He envisions a campaign built on Congress’s collective leadership, policy agenda and grassroots networks, leaving the final CM decision to be taken after the polls, with newly elected MLAs and the central command sharing the verdict.

Internal divisions surface once more

Sharma’s letter has thrust the leadership dilemma back into the spotlight, exposing divergent views within Haryana Congress even though the 2029 vote is still several years away.

The episode raises a strategic crossroads for the party: should it centre its next campaign around a charismatic figure or present itself as a unified organization under shared leadership?