The faction-ridden Haryana Congress on Wednesday named 104 block presidents for the first time in 12 years, aiming to strengthen the organisation at the grassroots level. However, the list includes no women, and appointments for the remaining 76 blocks are still pending.
Appointments After Long Gap
Until now, these posts had remained vacant for over a decade. The party had been functioning without grassroots workers since May 2014. After a poor performance in the Lok Sabha elections, where the party won only the Rohtak seat, then Congress president Ashok Tanwar dissolved all district and block committees. In 2025, after an 11-year gap, the party released a list of 32 district presidents, with only one woman.
No Women in Block Presidents List
The absence of women in the block presidents list has drawn criticism. Haryana Congress president Rao Narender Singh said the names for 76 blocks are still left, and there is a chance women will be appointed. He added that there is no quota for women for these posts, though many women leaders work at state and district levels.
Singh declared the block presidents based on recommendations from District Congress Committee presidents, senior party leaders, dedicated workers, and after discussions with AICC in-charge BK Hariprasad. The appointments were approved with immediate effect.
Impact on Party Performance
The lack of grassroots organisation has impacted the party in both Assembly and Lok Sabha polls. Singh said the names were finalised after consulting MLAs, MPs, and candidates who contested recent elections, and there is complete agreement over the names.
Meanwhile, the list is heavily dominated by leaders loyal to former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda. A senior leader, speaking anonymously, questioned why there was a 12-year wait if block presidents were to be appointed at the choice of top leaders. No appointments have been made in Sirsa, Jhajjar, Faridabad, and Hansi blocks.
