Final word on hold, BJP tests Chautala patience once more

BJP chief M. Venkaiah Naidu did not end suspense at the long-awaited rally at Gohana in Sonipat today. He said: ‘‘I have noted that the INLD and the BJP unit in the state want to fight elections alone. We will keep that in mind and take a decision at the right time.’’

Naidu’s remark comes a day after Chautala’s elder son and member of the dissolved Lok Sabha from Bhiwani, Ajay, stated at Jaipur: ‘‘The INLD will fight independently in Haryana, Rajasthan, UP and Bihar.’’ He went on to add: ‘‘Our Haryana unit has been demanding this for some time and we have decided to go it alone.’’

The state sends 10 members to Lok Sabha. The two parties, contesting five seats each in 1999, won all of them. Five years down the line, the Chautala government is faced with a strong anti-incumbency factor. State BJP leaders, consistently slighted and harassed by Chautala, have requested the high command to let them contest on their own.

At the Gohana rally, Naidu sent out a clear signal to Chautala. He declared as BJP president that ‘‘Kishen Singh Sangwan (sitting MP) will be our candidate from Sonipat.’’ Sangwan is a bitter critic of Chautala. The chief minister had, of late, been working hard in the constituency amid reports that he would demand Sonipat seat from the BJP. Naidu has put an end to this possibility.

A senior state BJP leader, requesting anonymity, said this evening: ‘‘Our high command realises it is time we got rid of Chautala but it does not want to attract the stigma of dumping an ally of five years. But we will create such conditions that he is forced to leave us.’’