The Congress party on Wednesday made it clear that its sitting MPs from Haryana will not be fielded in the Assembly elections. No sitting MPs will be permitted to contest, Congress General Secretary and Haryana in-charge Deepak Babaria told reporters. Babaria was responding to a question about whether sitting MPs like Selja and Surjewala would be given tickets to fight the Assembly elections. Both the leaders are perceived to be part of a faction against former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Hooda. The announcement also nixed any plans to field Deepender Hooda, Rohtak MP and Bhupinder Hoodas son. The Hooda faction has been subtly projecting Deepender as the face of the campaign and potential Chief Minister. Selja, who won the Lok Sabha elections from Sirsa, had earlier indicated her willingness to fight the Assembly election several times. She had also indicated that she is in the race for chief ministership though Hooda is dominating the Haryana Congress. Meanwhile, the Congress Screening Committee is holding extensive discussions with Haryana leaders, who are providing their choices of candidates for particular seats. The exercise is expected to be completed in a couple of days. The Screening Committee may start shortlisting candidates by the weekend to place their names before a meeting of Congress Central Election Committee headed by party president Mallikarjun Kharge.

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