New Delhi: Friction has come to the fore in Haryana’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party-Jannayak Janata Party (BJP-JJP) alliance, the latest trigger being the upcoming Adampur Assembly by-election, where JJP leaders have complained about being explicitly removed from campaign posters. Not only this, there is no mention of JJP in BJP’s social media campaign for 2024 Haryana elections.
Adding to the panic of Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala and other JJP leaders is “poaching” from the party ranks and a closed-door meeting between BJP leaders and independent MLAs.
When it comes to the Adampur by-election on November 3, there is more than one reason for the JJP to be angry. One is the disappearance of JJP from the campaign material and the other is that the BJP is fielding Bhavya Bishnoi, who is the son of Kuldeep Bishnoi. The Adampur by-election was necessary as Kuldeep quit the Congress and joined the BJP in August.
Adampur falls in Hisar district which is the center of three influential political families of Haryana Bhajan Lal, Devi Lal and Bansi Lal. Bishnois are descendants of Bhajanlal and Chautala of Devi Lal.
Son of Bhajan Lal Kuldeep Bishnoi In the 2011 Hisar Lok Sabha by-election, he defeated Ajay Chautala, who is the grandson of Devi Lal and father of Dushyant. Dushyant was avenged His father was defeated in the 2014 general election when he defeated Bishnoi.
Another complaint for the JJP is that it has been left out of the social media campaign launched by the BJP IT cell last week for the 2024 Haryana Assembly elections.
,Haryana police station Sai, for the third time Manohar Lana Sai (Haryana is determined to bring Manohar in for the third time),” reads a poster.
Other posters have pictures of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Khattar with the tagline.Manohar Maha Haryana (Manohar is our Haryana)”, making it clear that the Haryana Chief Minister will be the face of the election campaign.
JJP general secretary Digvijay Chautala, who is the deputy CM’s younger brother, objected to the exclusion of party symbols and photographs of party leaders in the campaign material when both the parties were in the ruling alliance in Haryana.
“It is surprising to see that we are running a coalition government, but there is no picture of the coalition partner in the campaign material,” Digvijay told ThePrint.
In the 90-member Haryana Assembly, the BJP is the senior ruling ally with 40 MLAs, while the JJP has 10. The rest are Congress (31), Independents (7), Indian National Lok Dal (1) and Haryana Lokhit Party (1).
JJP chief spokesperson Deepakmal Saharan told ThePrint that photographs of the Chautala family and the party’s flag were used in the last two by-elections in Haryana.
“In Baroda” [assembly constituency] Where wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt lost to Congress [candidate in 2020]Dushyant had campaigned for BJP. also in Ellenabad [in 2021]Dushyant Chautala campaigned for BJP… but there is no such coordination for it [Adampur] Till now by-election Kuldeep Bishnoi has not sought our support [either],” He added.
After the complaints of JJP, some posters have now surfaced in which Dushyant’s picture is with BJP leaders.
Dismissing speculations of differences arising in the alliance, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar Told On Monday, local leaders may have published publicity material, but in Adampur, BJP and JJP are fighting unitedly.
‘Poaching’ of politicians worries JJP
The image of the propaganda in JJP circles is not the only cause of outrage. BJP inducted Dushyant’s special secretary on September 16 Mahesh Chauhan With more than 150 JJP workers and district working committee members in the party.
Chouhan was associated with the Chautals for more than 20 years and was in charge of some districts including Rohtak – the home constituency of Congress veteran and former Haryana CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda.
“I was a founding member of JJP, but I was ready to work for national parties and was influenced by PM Modi. So, I along with my supporters decided to join the BJP,” he told ThePrint.
What is more worrying for JJP is that BJP’s state in-charge Biplab Kumar Deb held a meeting with six independent MLAs supporting the Manohar Khattar government, where he Allegedly He suggested ending the alliance with Chautala.
Haryana BJP said in a tweet that Deb met the Independent MLAs in the presence of State Assembly Speaker Gyanchand Gupta.
State @BjpBiplab In the meeting meeting with g bad @GianChandBjp Yes too. pic.twitter.com/5aE68Mj3ZK
– Haryana BJP (@BJP4Haryana) 7 October 2022
BJP state president Om Prakash Dhankhar had to come before the media to say that the alliance with JJP was “solid”, as Digvijay reacted sharply to the suggestion allegedly made by the independent.
Dushyant is cautious about the intention of the BJP. Recently, he removed Narwana MLA Ramniwas Surjakheda from the post of Khadi and Village Industries Board chairman because he was singing BJP tunes and praising Khattar,” a JJP insider told ThePrint.
“We know how the BJP left its allies in other states and split alliances. Therefore, we are careful. The coalition should at least have the limits of not victimizing each other’s legislators and leaders. The Independent MLA praises Dushyant when he meets him, and sings a different tune in front of the BJP leadership,” said the insider.
The earlier developments have also raised doubts in the JJP about the conspiracies of the BJP. In the Haryana civic polls held in June, the BJP first decided to contest on its own, but later put up a bitter face to contest with the JJP.
JJP and BJP are likely to face face-to-face in the Haryana Panchayat elections, as the latter has decided not to contest. punch, head, and block members committees Party symbol. vote for punch And head will be held on November 2, while the block key Committee And District Council Starting 30th October.
Last month BJP President JP Nadda had visited Haryana and asked the state leadership to unite coordination committee To resolve differences between coalition partners. However, the panel is yet to be constituted.
When asked about clashes between the alliance partners, BJP state general secretary Vedpal said there was no acrimony, but added that all parties have their own ambitions.
“Every party has the right to step up. There is no such bitterness in our relationship. … Dushyant regularly interacts with the Chief Minister on important issues,” he told ThePrint.
Alone, however, a BJP leader admitted that JJP’s support was important when the 2020-21 farmers’ movement was at its peak, but things are different now. JJP is primarily a party of Jat farmers. basic voter base in rural areas of Haryana.
“BJP has taken several steps including appointing Jats as vice-presidents [Jagdeep Dhankhar] and Uttar Pradesh BJP President [Bhupendra Singh Chaudhary] To facilitate relationships with the community. it’s time to decide [to fight in alliance or go alone]The BJP leader told ThePrint.
(Edited by Tony Rae)