Prepared for another fight, says Hooda, seeks support from voters in his Assembly constituency

A week after turning 79, former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda on Wednesday made it clear that he was not ready to hang up his political boots.

Addressing villagers during a tour of his Assembly constituency Garhi Sampla-Kiloi, the Leader of the Opposition said he was ready for another “fight” and asked his supporters to also prepare for it.

Mr. Hooda cast his political future as a choice between “sitting silent” and “continuing the fight”.

“My people are my real strength. I have come to ask you whether I should sit quietly or continue to fight. There are only two paths – to sit silent or to fight. I am ready. You should be ready. I am not going to step back. I have never stepped back before,” the Congress leader said in Haryanvi, drawing applause.