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CHANDIGARH: The “Sadbhav Yatra” led by former Brijendra Singh concluded in Rohtak on Saturday evening with a six-kilometre march that witnessed participation from Congress workers, supporters and senior party leaders, even as the absence of former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and his loyalist MLAs triggered fresh political speculation within the Indian National Congress in Haryana.
The yatra began from Rajeev Chowk and culminated at Bhiwani Stand after passing through several major roads and marketplaces of the city. Supporters gathered at multiple points along the route to welcome the procession, with drum beats, slogans and celebratory dancing adding a festive atmosphere to the concluding leg of the campaign.
Absence of Hooda and Rohtak MLAs sparks discussion
Although all former Haryana Congress presidents and senior leaders were invited to the concluding ceremony, neither Bhupinder Hooda nor any of the three Congress MLAs from Rohtak district attended the event.
The absence of the Hooda camp from the yatra’s finale assumed political significance because Rohtak is widely regarded as Hooda’s political stronghold and one of the most influential centres of Congress politics in Haryana.
Political observers viewed the absence as an indication of continuing undercurrents and factional discomfort within the state Congress unit, despite repeated public assertions of unity by party leaders.
Senior Congress leaders attend concluding event
Several prominent Congress leaders, however, attended the concluding ceremony and walked alongside Brijendra Singh during the final stretch of the yatra.
Among those present were:
- Rao Narendra Singh
- Dharampal Malik
- Chaudhary Birender Singh
- Randeep Singh Surjewala
- Kuldeep Sharma
- Jitendra Baghel
Their participation was seen as an attempt to project organisational solidarity and reinforce the Congress’ outreach campaign in Haryana ahead of future electoral battles.
‘Understood the pulse of the people’: Brijendra Singh
Addressing supporters at the concluding gathering, Brijendra Singh said the Sadbhav Yatra had provided an opportunity to directly understand the concerns and hardships faced by people across Haryana.
He said that what initially appeared to be a difficult political exercise became easier because of overwhelming public support and the dedication of party workers.
“During the yatra, we understood the pulse of the people and the issues they face at the grassroots. We witnessed farmers’ plight, acute unemployment among youth and the distress caused by the BJP government’s failures,” Brijendra Singh said.
Launching an attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party, he accused the ruling party of pursuing divisive politics for electoral gains.
According to him, the BJP was attempting to polarise society instead of addressing issues related to unemployment, agriculture and economic distress.
Congress only party capable of defeating BJP: Brijendra
Calling the BJP “anti-Dalit”, Brijendra Singh asserted that the Congress remained the only political force capable of effectively challenging the saffron party in Haryana as well as nationally.
“The Congress is the only party with the ideology, organisational strength and social support required to defeat the BJP,” he said.
He also thanked supporters and party workers who participated in the yatra and said he would remain indebted to them throughout his life.
Surjewala attacks BJP over caste politics
Rajya Sabha MP Randeep Singh Surjewala also used the occasion to sharply criticise the BJP-led governments at the Centre and in Haryana.
Surjewala alleged that the BJP had systematically divided society along caste and community lines for political gains.
“The BJP government has weakened the backbone of every section of society — farmers, labourers, traders and youth — while simultaneously dividing people on caste lines,” he alleged.
He further accused the ruling party of failing to address inflation, unemployment and agrarian distress despite repeated public promises.
Yatra seen as organisational outreach exercise
The Sadbhav Yatra is being viewed as an important organisational and political outreach initiative by Brijendra Singh, who has been attempting to strengthen his independent political identity within the Haryana Congress.
The campaign also comes at a time when the Congress is trying to consolidate its support base in Haryana amid continued factional equations and preparations for upcoming political contests in the state.
Political analysts believe the yatra’s conclusion in Rohtak — despite the absence of the Hooda camp — sends a signal that multiple power centres continue to exist within the Haryana Congress, even as the party publicly projects unity against the BJP.
