Why BJP finds itself on unsure footing in Haryana

“The party is not yet over the shock of the Lok Sabha results. Although the party was conscious of the anti-incumbency factor — there was a last-minute change in the top leadership in the state — the leadership was confident that Prime Minister Modi’s popularity would overcome it,” said a BJP leader.

While a section of leaders said Khattar could be asked to confine himself to Karnal, from where he won the recent Lok Sabha election, others said such a move could adversely affect the party’s campaign as the “BJP always goes to polls on its governance record in a state where it is in power”. Asked one leader, “How will you seek votes if the CM of almost 10 years is kept on the sidelines?”

The delay in releasing the candidates’ list has also raised questions. Over the past 10 days, several rounds of meetings have taken place between the state unit and the central leadership, including a meeting of the Central Election Committee chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and BJP president J P Nadda.

BJP sources said the list, which was initially expected to be released over the weekend, was stuck due to disagreement over 35 of the 90 Assembly seats in the state. The party is facing a rebellion in a few of these constituencies, according to the insiders. The decision to induct four rebels from former ally Jannayak Janta Party (JJP) had also not gone down well with some in the party cadre, the insiders added.

The four are Devender Singh Babli, who defeated then state BJP president Subhash Barala in Tohana in 2019; Ram Kumar Gautam, who defeated then state Cabinet Minister Captain Abhimanyu in Narnaund; Jogi Ram Sihag who defeated the BJP’s Surender Punia in Barwala; and Anoop Dhanak who defeated the BJP’s Asha Khedar in Uklana. All these former JJP leaders are looking to contest from their constituencies, with the BJP leaders they defeated also eyeing the tickets.

Sources in central BJP, however, denied there was any confusion about tickets. “The list is almost complete. But the delay in its release is a strategic decision. We are waiting for our rivals’ moves also. We have already informed the candidates and they have started preparing,” said a leader, adding that the list was being prepared with “utmost care to not antagonise any senior leader or sections.”

“The biggest challenge for any party in the election these days is to arrest an exodus of leaders who are not happy. We have so far tried to accommodate everyone’s views and interests,” said the source.

Asked about the delay in releasing the list, Badoli said, “Suggestions from each level of the party are being collected before the high command approves the final list of candidates. It is a long list.”

Admitting that the BJP was facing anti-incumbency, a BJP leader said, “Some decisions taken during the government under Khattar saab triggered anger. The Saini government has been working to ensure that they are negated or diluted.”

He added, “Since we have to go to polls with our governance record, we have decided to highlight selective measures. For example, the party will go heavy on our ‘bina parchi bina kharchi naukri (job without recommendations or bribes)’. With the BJP focussing on its OBC support base, the Saini government’s decision to increase the annual income limit for creamy layer for employment in the OBC category from Rs 6 lakh to 8 lakh will be highlighted.”

Recent confusion over which seat CM Saini will contest from has also illustrated that the state BJP may not be entirely in sync. On the afternoon of August 28, Badoli ruled himself out of the contest and said Saini would contest from Ladwa in Kurukshetra district. Saini who currently represents Karnal told the media that Badoli might have had more information than him but he would contest from his current seat. Later that night, Saini’s representatives issued a statement saying the CM’s comments should be taken lightly as he would contest from wherever the party high command asked him to.