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Haryana Assembly Polls : There is palpable internal unrest in the Haryana BJP with some of its key leaders turning guns on the party for what they perceive to be injustice meted out through the just-released candidate list for the forthcoming state elections. Dissent and resignations marked the controversy making things challenging for the BJP ahead of a tough electoral battle.
Haryana Assembly Polls Updates Resignations Over Candidate Selection
Its troubles began when the BJP released its first list of candidates for 67 out of the 90 seats in Haryana. A list that was meant to unify the party and strengthen its electoral prospects has triggered a wave of resignations from several prominent leaders who are disgruntled over the ticket distribution process. Most noticeable among them are the resignations of Laxman Napa, Ranjit Singh Chautala, and Bachan Singh Arya, each citing their dissatisfaction with the party’s choices in one aspect or another.
Laxman Napa’s Resignation.
Laxman Napa – sitting MLA from Ratia was the first to have resigned over the ticket distribution. Napa, a loyal party member, expressed disappointment over the way the party had bypassed him in giving a ticket. His resignation on September 6 sent shockwaves through the party as that marked the series of such resignations.
Ranjit Singh Chautala and Other Cabinet Ministers
The disgruntlement was not confined to MLAs only. Energy Minister Ranjit Singh Chautala and Minister of State for Social Justice Bishamber Singh Balmiki joined them in quitting the BJP. Their resignation proved to be a heavy jolt to the party as both were prominent ministers in the state cabinet. More than that, it is Chautala’s resignation that has increased the worry of the BJP as it has lost an experienced leader in the government.
The resignation of former state minister Bachan Singh Arya, who also quit the BJP on similar grounds, only added to its woes. An old-timer, Arya was angry at not getting a ticket despite his long service. His exit was another loss to the BJP trying to contain the growing disaffection within its ranks.
Nepotism and Favoritism Allegations
The problem apparently begins with grumblings of nepotism and favoritism in the method of ticket distribution. Many party loyalists, with long years of service to the BJP, feel they have been sidelined to make way for recent converts or people with less political experience. This perception has acted as fuel to anger and frustration among the party’s rank and file.
Turncoats Over Loyalists
Many sulking leaders pointed out that the BJP has preferred turncoats, joining it from other political outfits recently, to long-time loyalists. The very fact instills a sense of betrayal among the latter who toiled for the party through thick and thin. Former MLA Balkaur Singh is among such leaders who blamed the party openly for not respecting him despite his loyalty to the party.
Balkaur Singh to Join the Congress
This has been further pushed into the limelight when Balkaur Singh decided to quit BJP and joined Congress. On grounds of not being given due respect and a place of regard, in consideration with the former Chief Minister Bhupendra Singh Hooda and Kumari Selja, Singh declared his decision to switch to the Congress. That was a pretty loud and clear message that the internal discord within the BJP may just benefit its political rivals.
Emotional Outbursts and Public Display of Discontent
The discontent amongst the BJP leaders has not been restricted to resignations. In certain cases, there have been emotional outbursts from several leaders, drawing the attention of the electronic media and the public at large.
Shashi Ranjan Parmar’s Emotional Breakdown
One such example is that of the former MLA Shashi Ranjan Parmar, who was seen crying in an interview as he came to know that his name was not in the list of candidates. Parmar, considered a confident candidate for a nomination, thus looked visibly distressed and asked what he was supposed to do next. His emotional reaction has become a symbol of the deep-seated discontent within the party.
BJP’s Efforts to Manage the Crisis
As if to contain this unrest, the BJP leadership works overtime to ward off the crisis and save its faces. Right at the helm of affairs stands Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini in trying to cool down the disgruntled leaders so as not to let the party take a beating at their hands.
Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini’s Assurance
In an apparent bid to soothe the nerves, Chief Minister Saini has assured the party members that their concerns are being taken up and looked into. He hoped that the BJP remained united and was committed towards forming the government for the third time in Haryana. Saini also sought to flag the efforts of senior leaders such as Subhash Barala in trying to iron out the issues and reach out to the party’s base.
Appeals for Unity
The BJP leadership, while appealing several times for unity to reach out to disgruntled leaders to review their decisions and stay with the party, said, “The unity of the party is crucial for achieving electoral success, and called upon all its members to put aside differences to ensure the party wins maximum number of seats in the current elections.”
Challenges Ahead for the BJP
So, despite the BJP trying to take care of the damage, much challenges remain ahead. The internal rift has damaged not only the party’s position but also gave its rivals an opportunity to cash in on it. More so, the Congress was the first one to open its doors to the disgruntled BJP leaders, thereby further messing up BJP’s electoral prospects.
Electoral Prospect
These resignations and open discontent could work against the BJP’s fortunes in the forthcoming elections. A lot of prestige has been lost by the party, and such attempts at favoritism and nepotism might not be taken very well by its electorate. This is something the BJP will have to really work at to regain the trust of its members and supporters if ever it hopes for a victory in these elections.
Gains for Congress
Under the leadership of Bhupendra Singh Hooda and Kumari Selja, the Congress party has lost no time in capitalizing on the BJP’s internal mess. Welcoming leaders such as Balkaur Singh into its fold, the Congress is emerging as a perfect alternative for the disenchanted BJP men. This might just pay dividends in the forthcoming election if the BJP fails to put its house in order.
Conclusion: Testing Time for BJP in Leadership
The Haryana situation has thrown up a huge test of leadership before the BJP. How it manages this crisis, placates the party’s sulking leaders, and goes to the electorate with one united voice will determine whether its new election game plan gets off the blocks or not. But though the BJP is working on containing the damage the candidate list affair has caused, it will have to take strong remedial measures at the ground level to cure the virus of favoritism and make all its members feel appreciated and dignified. Only then can the BJP expect to come out of the crisis and win for itself a third term in Haryana.