Congress war-room: All-out battle for ruling party in Haryana assembly polls

Eyeing hat-trick: Faced with the monumental challenge to win back the trust of voters for the formation of government for the third consecutive time, the managers at the Congress war room also shoulder the responsibility of keeping the voters abreast with the works of the two-term Congress government. However, another extremely demanding task for them is to portray before the new voters — post 2005-poll — the alleged mis-governance and misdeeds of previous INLD and BJP governments. And this, on all possible levels — personal, political and virtual.

Capt Ajay Yadav, campaign planner

He is the chairman of the Congress campaign committee. The tall Ahir leader and six-time MLA, Capt Yadav’s task is to plan campaigns for all the Congress candidates in Haryana Vidhan Sabha constituencies. It is also one of his main works to roll out MLAs’ demands for star campaigners and chalk out the latter’s tours.

Prof Virender, keeping finger on rustic pulse

Prof Virender, who once worked with Devi Lal has been political adviser to chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda for the past about two decades. One of key political advisers to Hooda and his MP-son Deepender, he has his fingers on Haryana’s rustic rural pulse. He updates the party leaders about alive and relevant issues and suggests ways to address them.

MS Chopra, Hooda’s aide

Formerly an official in Parliament, the Jat bureaucrat from Narwana is a close confidant of the chief minister since latter’s stints in Parliament. He is perceived to be in the know of the priorities and mind of Hooda and thus acts as a powerful aide to him and his son Deepender.

Sunder Pal, link with media

A lawyer by profession, the former media adviser to the chief minister, Pal had fallen out and joined the Trinamool Congress. He is now back in favour with Hooda and is the link between the media and party.

Naveen Jindal, publicity panel head

The ex-MP is the head of Congress’ powerful publicity committee of which the likes of Haryana Congress president Ashok Tanwar and Deepender Hooda are members. Himself owner of a television channel, he has been entrusted by the Congress high command to guide the publicity campaign of the party.

Kiran Chaudhry, aggressive and candid

Being the co-chairperson of the campaign committee, the two-time MLA, Chaudhry, too, is headlong involved in planning the campaigns by the star campaigners pan-Haryana. Her inclusion in the committee is being seen as her being an aggressive leader, especially when it comes to candidly spelling out the expectations of the voters and party MLAs.

Deepender Hooda, keeping tabs on social media

Son of chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Rohtak MP Deepender Hooda is the man behind the party’s role on the social and other media. Conversant with trends, temperament and fads of the social media – especially Twitter and Facebook – Deepender along with his team of professionals and trusted hands from New Delhi, is responsible for firing Congress’ salvos to counter and batter rivals’ propaganda with the help of print advertisements, radio jingles and TV promos.