Haryana Assembly Elections: BJP’s Haryana Rebellion Intensifies as Another Senior Leader Quits Party

The BJP released its first list of 67 candidates on Wednesday. Former Haryana minister Bachan Singh Arya, who was seeking a ticket from the Safidon Assembly constituency, was not chosen. The party decided to field Jannayak Janta Party (JJP) rebel Ram Kumar Gautam, who had recently joined BJP. The JJP was previously an ally of the BJP until Nayab Singh Saini replaced Manohar Lal Khattar as the Haryana chief minister in March this year.

Mr. Arya, who previously lost from the Safidon Assembly constituency, expressed his discontent by posting a couplet on social media hinting at rebellion. Meanwhile, Mr. Chautala announced that he would contest as an Independent and Mr. Napa mentioned joining the Congress. Potential loss of 79-year-old Mr. Chautala, who is the son of Chaudhary Devi Lal, a prominent Haryana leader, can hurt the party. Allegations were made by some leaders that loyalists were not being valued by the BJP.

The BJP, which has been in power in Haryana since 2014, is facing a stiffer challenge in the upcoming elections. The party lost five of the state’s 10 Lok Sabha seats to the Congress this year after winning all of them in 2019. The protests by farmers, agitation by wrestlers last year, and concerns over the Agnipath scheme for recruitment in the Army are seen as posing challenges to the party in the state. In the Baroda Assembly constituency, Congress leader Kapoor Singh Narwal expressed frustration at not being given a ticket as promised by Mr. Hooda.

He expressed intentions of contesting as an Independent or leaving the party. The discontent and disappointment among leaders and potential candidates indicate that the upcoming elections in Haryana will see heightened competition and anticipation.