Congress MP Kumari Selja has dismissed speculation that she is distancing herself from campaigning in the upcoming Haryana election because she was not given the chance to contest. She clarified that “there should never be any doubts” about her commitment to the party and the state.

Calling herself a “loyal worker and a good soldier,” Selja said she will begin campaigning this week. “It was never intended I shall remain absent (from the campaign) throughout. I will campaign… because I am a party solider. I’ve always said I am a good soldier,” she told NDTV.

However, she did acknowledge “there are serious issues” that need addressing, although she did not go into detail. She said that the Congress leadership “is working on” these problems.

“I made it very clear… even before the Lok Sabha election… I want to serve the people of Haryana as a legislator rather than MP. But the general election came first. So the party decided, I decided, we all decided that I should contest that election,” she said.

“But that didn’t mean one can’t contest the Vidhan Sabha election… there can always be a bypoll for the Lok Sabha seat. But now that is a separate issue. I wanted to contest… party didn’t allow. That is ok,” she added.

Selja also suggested that her candidacy in the state election could have sent a “strong message” and that the Congress could have benefitted from her running, but dismissed talk of any internal conflict, adding, “… in any case, the party will form the (state) government.”

Rumours had circulated that Kumari Selja had a falling out with the Congress leadership in Delhi over her desire to run in the Haryana election. The 61-year-old, who won the Sirsa Lok Sabha seat in the general election, was reportedly keen to contest the state election as well, but her request was turned down.

If she had contested and won, it would have triggered a bypoll for her Lok Sabha seat, and Congress appeared unwilling to risk losing one of its 99 seats.

As a senior Dalit leader who has twice served as a union minister, many viewed her as a potential candidate for the Chief Minister’s post if the Congress were to secure a victory in next month’s election.

These events prompted the BJP to claim that she had been “disrespected.”

Former Chief Minister ML Khattar extended an “invitation”, remarking that “any self-respecting person” in her position would reconsider their next steps. His successor, Nayab Singh Saini, also criticised the Congress, accusing it of being “anti-Dalit… for not respecting Dalits.”

Selja, however, said the BJP should “first set their own house in order.” She added, “How much respect do they give (to Dalits) …”

The election for the 90-member Haryana Assembly will take place on October 5, and votes will be counted on October 8.