Chandigarh, Jan 23
At a time when Congress politics in Haryana is dominated by the Hooda surname, especially that of Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, one other leader from the state has emerged on the national scene.
Haryana Industries and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Randeep Singh Surjewala has just been elevated as one of the Congress party's national spokespersons, especially for TV appearances. He has also been made part of the Congress' national-level coordination committee for the April-May Lok Sabha elections.
Congress politics in Haryana have, since 2005, been dominated by the elder Hooda and his son, Deepinder Hooda, who is the MP from Rohtak.
The only other noticeable name from Haryana at the central level is Miss Shelja, union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment.
Surjewala has started making regular appearances on TV news channels for discussions on national and political affairs. At a time when the Congress is facing a twin attack from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the street-active Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), the Congress has been looking for leaders who could put across the party line in an effective manner. Surjewala seems to fit the bill.
Suave, articulate and firm in his mannerisms, Surjewala, 46, a lawyer by training, surely knows what to talk about and how to effectively get things across. With his new assignments, Surjewala can often be seen flying to New Delhi.
By:IANS