BJP’s problem of plenty: A Rajya Sabha bypoll triggers a scramble for ticket in Haryana

Bishnoi, a three-time MLA and two-time Lok Sabha MP, met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi on Wednesday. BJP sources told The Indian Express that Bishnoi wanted to reach the Upper House of Parliament just as fellow Congress rebel Kiran Choudhry did in September. Choudhry quit the Congress in June and joined the BJP. Three months later, she moved to the Rajya Sabha, winning from the seat that Congress’s Deepender Hooda vacated after he was elected to the Lok Sabha from Rohtak. Choudhry was elected unopposed after the Congress did not field any candidate because of inadequate numbers.

This time too, the BJP nominee is all set to be elected unopposed as the party has an absolute majority with 48 MLAs in the 90-member House and enjoys the support of three Independent MLAs. The Congress has 37 MLAs and the Indian National Lok Dak has two legislators.

“Kuldeep Bishnoi is trying hard not to let this opportunity go. It is, however, the party’s central leadership that will decide who will be considered for the Rajya Sabha. Everybody will follow the party’s decision,” a senior BJP leader told The Indian Express.

Bishnoi, according to party insiders, was interested in September too, holding several meetings with senior leaders in Delhi. But the central leadership ultimately decided to send Choudhry to Parliament. This time, his position is a bit more weakened as his son and former Adampur MLA Bhavya Bishnoi lost the family seat for the first time in history. The Bishnoi family had distanced itself from the BJP’s programmes after the results, with both father and son not being seen in party events, including one that CM Saini attended on November 25 in Hisar. Before that, they did not attend party meetings convened by Badoli in Hisar. BJP leaders said the Bishnois were unhappy at being given prominence in the state unit.

Among the other top contenders are Badoli, who lost the Lok Sabha polls this year from Sonipat; former Karnal MP Bhatia who gave up the seat for Manohar Lal Khattar in the Lok Sabha polls, and was later appointed to the BJP’s election management committee; Dhankhar; and Duggal. The chances of the last two are considered relatively not that high as they lost the recent Assembly elections: Dhankhar from Badli (for the second straight time) and Duggal from the Ratia (Scheduled Caste-reserved) seat.

“Bhatia deserves to be rewarded for his performance and taking him to the Rajya Sabha could be it. He also has experience of the Lok Sabha and it will be good for the party if he is considered,” said a BJP leader. Bhatia was the party’s western Uttar Pradesh co-in-charge during the Lok Sabha elections and is a known Khattar loyalist.

“Whoever is elected shall have almost two years in the Rajya Sabha. Krishan Panwar was elected to the Rajya Sabha in 2020 and resigned in October. The BJP’s parliamentary board will decide, with the process beginning after the poll notification is issued on December 3,” said a senior party leader.