Congress to get majority in Haryana, no question of retiring: Bhupinder Hooda

Former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda on Wednesday ruled out speculation of him retiring from politics and said he would want to serve the state again if the Congress won the upcoming Assembly polls in Haryana.
In an exclusive interview with India Today’s Executive Editor Preeti Choudhry, Bhupinder Singh Hooda, 77, asserted that Congress would win the Haryana Assembly polls with a majority.
“This is a battle between the BJP and the Congress. Vote cutter parties won’t get votes,” he said.
Asked whether he would pass on the mantle to his son Deepinder Singh Hooda, Bhupinder Singh Hooda said, “There is no question of retiring. If the party gives me a chance, I will serve for Haryana.”
Asked about the collapsed seat-sharing negotiations between AAP and Congress, Bhupinder Singh Hooda said the grand old party tried its best to give the Arvind Kejriwal-led party its share, but the talks did not materialise further.
He asserted that the BJP would be wiped out in the Haryana Assembly polls slated to be held on October 8.
“In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, we did not win any seats in Haryana. In 2024, we won five Lok Sabha seats in the state, and the BJP’s tally came down from 10 to five. Our vote share increased by 20 per cent while the BJP’s vote share dropped by 12. So, this time, BJP will be wiped out in the Assembly polls,” he said.
Responding to a question on Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala’s aspirations to become the Haryana Chief Minister, he replied, saying, “That is okay. He can also aspire to become that (Chief Minister).”
Bhupinder Singh Hooda also assured that the Congress will fulfil all its poll promises.