Chandigarh: Congress witnessed a power tussle within its top ranks in Haryana even before the final election results were declared on Tuesday, as Congress leader Kumari Selja launched a veiled critique of Bhupinder Singh Hooda, under whose leadership the party contested but failed to win the state, media reports said.

Selja stressed the need for the party's national leadership to develop a strategy to revive Congress in Haryana and to hold accountable those responsible for its poor performance in the assembly elections, reported India Today.

Kumari Selja, a Congress Lok Sabha MP and former union minister, stated, "I'm sure the party will look into all aspects that led to such results in Haryana."

She pointed to the need for greater inclusivity and coordination among party leaders as key issues affecting the organisation.

Factionalism had been evident within the Haryana Congress long before the assembly elections.

On several occasions, Selja had publicly expressed her concerns over Hooda’s leadership.

Allegations were made that Bhupinder Hooda, former Chief Minister and Leader of the Opposition in the assembly, was trying to dominate the state unit of Congress.

Ahead of the polls, Selja in a veiled attack on Hooda, stated, "There are many people who want to go it alone. I cannot say anything when someone is determined not to cooperate."

Selja also opposed the Hooda camp's push to project him as the party’s chief ministerial candidate, saying, "Whenever there is a party government, the Chief Minister leads the election. As per past practice, the party never projects anyone when we are in the opposition."

Congress, which had won five out of ten Lok Sabha seats in the recent general elections and increased its vote share from 28.42% in 2019 to 43.67%, had been hoping for a strong comeback in Haryana.

However, its failure to overcome internal conflicts and present a united front ultimately undermined its efforts to convert its Lok Sabha success into a victory in the state assembly.