Rumblings in Haryana BJP, Congress

By Rajesh Ahuja

AMBALA, FEB. 2. Even as the deadline for filing of nominations for the forthcoming mid-term elections in Haryana expired today, all major parties, including the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress, were plagued by internal dissensions and a virtual revolt amongst the rank and file.

According to highly-placed sources, there was strong resentment among BJP workers over the manner in which the party virtually cowed down before the diktat of the INLD supremo, Mr. Om Prakash Chautala, in not only scaling down the number of seats it would contest from 35 to 29 but also accepting two `losing' seats of Adampur and Bawani Khera.

The BJP cadres are also infuriated that Mr. Chautala had his way in the selection of BJP candidates in a few prestigious constituencies. For instance, in Palwal the BJP seems to have succumbed to Mr. Chautalas' pressure not to field Mr. Karan Singh Dalal even though he has a strong winning chance. In desperation, Mr. Dalal has filed his nomination as the candidate of the Republican Party of India which has virtually no entity in Haryana.

The BJP leaders are upset, insiders say, at the manner in which Mr. Chautala has foisted the two crucial seats of Adampur, the traditional home fief of Mr. Bhajan Lal, senior Congress leader and strong contender for the Chief Minister's `gaddi', and Bawani Khera, where again Congress heavyweight, Mr. Jagan Nath, is in the fray, on the party. It is common knowledge in Haryana politics that it is almost next to impossible to dislodge Mr. Bhajan Lal from his vantage position. And, according to political observers, the going appears to be tough in Bawani Khera also. It is also being felt that Mr. Chautala conceded too easily the Kalka seat to the BJP as again it would be a herculean task to defeat Mr. Chander Mohan, the son of Mr. Bhajan Lal, here.

BJP sources admit that it is proving difficult for it to find candidates who will be able to give a convincing fight in these key constituencies. Interestingly, and ironically, the BJP which claims to be a disciplined party is now showing its true colours in the run-up to the polls. Its cadres are lodging their resentment and anger openly by not only burning or damaging BJP offices but also openly protesting against the selection of candidates in constituencies like Gurgaon, Yamunanagar, Narnaul, Bhiwani and Ambala city. Supporters of a few former Ministers are unhappy that tickets have been denied to their leaders in Karnal, Sirsa, Ambala City and a few other places.

A senior BJP leader and close relative of the Devi Lal clan, Mr. Mahender Singh Lather, has openly revolted against the BJP leadership and threatened to resign over the virtual sell-out by the party leadership to Chautala. His specific charge is that the BJP has discriminated against Jats and Banias while allotting tickets.

Insiders are worried that if the uneasy accord between the INLD and the BJP has generated such reaction, it does not augur well for the future as the picture of dissension and revolt is not going to influence the voters positively. Moreover, the undercurrent of tension between the INLD and BJP cadres would also have an impact which could be somewhat negative.

And so far as the Congress is concerned, the workers are virtually on the verge of revolt over denial of tickets in respective constituencies. For instance in Ambala and Bhiwani, the local units are understood to have `faxed' their protest to the High Command. This coupled with the infighting amongst the top leaders has made the task of announcing the party's list a difficult one. Congress probables are rushing to their constituencies to file nominations irrespective of whether they get the party symbol or not. A senior leader disclosed that the `probable' candidates had the option to withdraw once the formal list was finally announced.

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Section  : Regional
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