The unity formula of the Congress high command, involving swapping of posts between Haryana Congress chief Bhajan Lal and Leader of Opposition Bhupinder Singh Hooda, seems to have failed. Even as Bhajan Lal completes one year as party president on July 31, factionalism continues to stare the party in the face and unity remains a far cry.Sources said the high command is now contemplating concrete measures to stem the rot. At the party meeting slated for July 31, the top brass may take up the issue with both factions. While the Bhajan faction has been encouraged by the differences between Hooda and Birender Singh getting exposed at a recent party rally in Kaithal, the Hooda faction has accused Bhajan Lal of damaging the party more than ever in the past year.Perturbed with the recent happenings, Congress general secretary and Haryana unit in-charge Naval Kishore Sharma is set to take up the matter, said sources. ‘‘The failure of the unity plan has provoked the high command to take some radical steps to restore discipline in the party,’’ they said. The issue of individual-centric rallies has also irked the high command which has conveyed to the state leadership to put a cap on such rallies. The state leadership has been told to organise rallies either under the banner of the state or district units in future. The sparring between Hooda and Birender at Kaithal is said to have inspired the directive.However, the Hooda faction claims that both leaders have buried the hatchet and are ready to take on the O.P. Chautala government. Factionalism in the party has provided Chief Minister Chautala a handy stick to beat the Congress leadership with. It has decidedly given the ruling INLD an edge over the Congress. Since the state is headed for elections next year, the party high command does not want to take chances or experiment any more.
