Khattar takes jibe at Hooda over remarks on poll contest

Former Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Sunday took a jibe at Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda over his remarks that last time both he and his son Deepender lost the Lok Sabha polls as both had entered the poll arena.

Khattar said Hooda's worry is that if he enters the contest this time too then his son will lose as he will not get the required support from him.

He expressed confidence of the BJP winning all the 10 Lok Sabha seats from the state this time too like in 2019.

When asked why he does not want to fight the Lok Sabha polls, Hooda had told reporters here on Friday that his son Deepender will be contesting and the party is deciding on his candidature from Rohtak.

When the Congress leader was asked that in 2019 both he and Deepender had contested, Hooda had said in a lighter vein, "Pichhli baar lade they jabi toh haar gaye dono (last time both of us contested that is why we both lost)." Had he not fought last time, they would not have lost the Rohtak seat, Hooda had said.

In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, Hooda had lost from Sonipat while Deepender had failed to retain his Rohtak seat.

Speaking to reporters after addressing the party workers in Karnal's Gharaunda on Sunday, Khattar took a jibe at the Congress' Haryana unit, saying their leaders are still gauging who will fight and who will not.