BJP Slams Congress Over Delay in Appointing Leader of Opposition in Haryana

Leader of Opposition in Haryana: In a sharp political jab, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has questioned the Congress party’s ability to function as a credible opposition in Haryana. Nearly seven months after the new Assembly was formed post the October 2024 elections, Congress has yet to appoint a Leader of the Opposition—raising eyebrows across political circles and drawing heat from the ruling party.

Anil Vij Senior BJP leader and Haryana’s Energy, Transport, and Labour Minister Anil Vij didn’t mince words. “Congress has clearly lost the ability to make decisions. Not just in Haryana, but across India, they are fumbling when it comes to leadership and clarity,” he said while addressing media in the state.

Vij further pointed out that the entire Haryana Budget Session passed without a designated Leader of the Opposition—a constitutional role critical for checks and balances in any democracy. “This indecisiveness sends a poor message to both party workers and the people. No direction, no leadership—that’s the Congress today,” he added.

Internal Rift or Strategy Leader of Opposition in Haryana?

The delay in choosing a new Congress Legislative Party (CLP) leader has again brought internal factionalism within the state Congress unit into the spotlight—something the party continues to deny. Bhupinder Singh Hooda, former Chief Minister and previous Leader of Opposition, was expected to return to the role, but internal disagreements seem to be stalling the decision.

Speaking to media, Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC) president Chaudhary Udaybhan confirmed that all MLAs have authorized the central leadership to take the final call. “We’ve done our part. The decision now rests with the party high command. We are hopeful a name will be announced soon,” he said.

Responding to Anil Vij’s criticism, Udaybhan shot back, “He should worry more about his position within his own party. The Congress will handle its own matters.”

Political Implications

While BJP sees this delay as a sign of Congress’s weakening grip, political analysts view it as a deeper symptom of the party’s leadership vacuum in multiple states. In the context of Haryana, where the BJP-JJP alliance managed to retain power but with a slimmer margin, a strong opposition could have helped balance state politics and voice public issues more forcefully.

With major state issues like unemployment, farmer welfare, and rising fuel prices taking center stage, the absence of a formal opposition leader has left many important debates underrepresented in the Assembly.

Why it matters

For the voters of Haryana and the broader Indian political scene, this ongoing delay is more than just an internal Congress matter. It reflects on the health of democracy, where the role of opposition is not just to oppose—but to question, debate, and provide alternate visions.

As the Lok Sabha elections inch closer, all eyes will be on how the Congress restructures itself—if at all—and whether it can bring unity to its fractured state units.