Latest news with #Balyan
News18
a day ago
- Politics
- News18
BJP Vs BJP: Constitution Club Poll Contest Between Heavyweights Rudy, Balyan Reaches Final Stage
Last Updated: BJP's Rajiv Pratap Rudy and Dr. Sanjeev Balyan compete for Secretary (Administration) at the Constitution Club of India. The vote on August 12 will decide the outcome. This is no ordinary election. At stake is the coveted post of secretary (administration) of the Constitution Club of India — a position that commands influence in the only members' club exclusively for current and former MPs. This time, the battle lines are drawn between two vastly different BJP heavyweights — the suave and seasoned Rajiv Pratap Rudy, who has been at the club's helm for more than 25 years, and Muzaffarnagar's former MP Dr Sanjeev Balyan, who is contesting for the first time. Rudy's supporters hail him as the man who transformed the club from a crumbling property into a modern facility boasting a spa, restaurants, a swimming pool, gym, and sports amenities. But his challenger, less than a decade into club membership, is campaigning hard on promises to put members first — amid murmurs that bureaucrats have been given too much leeway under his opponent's watch. What makes this contest fascinating is that it is not just a matter of governance — it's a reflection of caste alignments, personal loyalties, and intra-party manoeuvring. Rudy, a Thakur from Bihar, is banking on his long-standing rapport with senior leaders including friends across party lines from the Congress, NCP, and DMK. Balyan, a Jat from western Uttar Pradesh, is relying on his grassroots connections especially in the Hindi heartland and southern states. In a twist of political fate, Nishikant Dubey — once a close ally of Rudy — is now openly campaigning for Balyan. He is joined by BJP floor strategist CM Ramesh, who, insiders said, has been instrumental in mobilising support even from opposition members with backing from Telangana Congress leaders reportedly on Chief Minister Revanth Reddy's instructions including MPs from TDP, BRS, DMK and AIADMK. 'Nobody can doubt the ability that Ramesh has in mobilising. He has successfully done so even during the abrogation of Article 370," the team members said. Balyan's campaign seems to be of a military precision: senior leaders have been assigned 20 MPs each to bring to the voting booth, and outreach has extended to members from Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Jammu and Kashmir. Shrikant Shinde of the Shiv Sena and Lahu Krishna from the TDP are some MPs who have been assigned states to focus on. Dubey is also making use of his friendship and connection with party persons across the platform. It is even learnt that CM Omar Abdullah has promised that his party will support Balyan's candidature in this contest. 'Top brass of the NDA government have also in a way indicated which side they would want to support in this election," a source said. While one of the top five ministers in the central government said it will be better for him not to vote because it would be difficult to pick sides, one of the most vocal ministers said he will definitely cast his vote, and that there should be no confusion over his choice. Parliament premises have turned into a stage for this high-stakes duel. Rudy is usually seen near the Makar Dwar, where opposition MPs pass, while Balyan prefers Hans Dwar, frequented by ruling party MPs. Rudy's strategy is call-heavy — phone outreach, personal messages, and targeted conversations with influential members. Balyan's is more on-the-ground — meeting MPs at their homes and offices, securing promises of travel arrangements for former MPs so they can vote in person. Postal ballots have become another battleground. Rudy's camp claims a strong lead through absentee votes, but Balyan's team insists that physically present voters will tilt the numbers in their favour, rendering some postal ballots redundant. The 'Thakur versus Jat' caste contest has only added another layer to the fight. Both leaders are leveraging their identities alongside their political capital to court votes. Members said this election has the feel of a mini-general election, with state satraps, cross-party friendships, and even promises of travel support in play. Monday marks the last day of campaigning before Tuesday's crucial vote on August 12. The stakes are sky-high — 1,250 active MPs, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, JP Nadda, Sonia Gandhi, and Rahul Gandhi, will decide the outcome. The Constitution Club, founded by the Constituent Assembly, has always been more than a social space — it is a political hub where influence is forged and alliances are tested. This year's election, pitting old-guard experience against fresh-field energy, has become a political thriller playing out in real time. Will Rudy's decades of dominance hold? Or will Balyan's aggressive, personalised outreach rewrite the script? By Tuesday evening, the votes will reveal whether the BJP's internal clash leaves the Constitution Club's balance of power unchanged or forever altered. view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
India Today
28-07-2025
- Politics
- India Today
BJP vs BJP turns Constitution Club election into a thriller
Last week, as dusk settled over Lutyens' Delhi, the air was buzzing with excitement at a Maharashtra MP's residence. Young MPs had gathered for dinner, but the mood was anything but casual. Lists were being drawn, names ticked off, phone calls made. A full-blown "dinner diplomacy" was underway. What was being discussed with all seriousness wasn't the monsoon session of Parliament or Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar's resignation, but an election to an elite club in Delhi. The election to the Constitution Club of India, where MPs, current and former, are members, and didn't generate much attention earlier, has turned electrifying this was being discussed and strategised was the upcoming Constitution Club election on August 12. "It felt like a college election than a parliamentary affair," recalled senior journalist Rajdeep couldn't anyhow be a college election when two BJP leaders are contesting against one another. Because, in the fray are BJP's Saran MP Rajeev Pratap Rudy and the party's former Muzaffarnagar MP Sanjeev Balyan. With caste equations, intra-party loyalties, and even the issue of IAS officers' access to badminton courts on the dinner party's agenda, this rare BJP vs BJP face-off has turned the Constitution Club election into a political Balyan, with his rustic charm, earthy Jat humour, and easy camaraderie, is challenging Rajeev Pratap Rudy, the seasoned parliamentarian and polished aviator with an elite demeanour, who has held the post of Secretary (Administration) of the Constitution Club's Governing Council for the past 25 years."MPs CM Ramesh, who is known for his management skills, and Nishikant Dubey, who is well-connected across party lines", are helping Balyan secure votes from members from southern states, according to Sardesai. This is an attempt at broadening the Jat MP's appeal beyond the traditional northern and western base."That makes things tougher for Rudy on August 12," Sardesai said in The Lallantop's Netanagri THE CONSTITUTION CLUB?Current and former lawmakers, PM Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, MP Sonia Gandhi, MP Mallikarjun Kharge, the Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi, and even former Deputy PM LK Advani, are all members of the Constitution Club and are eligible to vote as a collective Constitution Club, established as an informal gathering of Indian Constituent Assembly members in early 1947, was formally inaugurated by President S Radhakrishnan in February 1965, at its current premises on Rafi Marg, close to the under the Societies Registration Act of 1860, the club serves as a premier platform for interaction among current and former Members of Parliament. It hosts events, conferences, and debates while maintaining facilities like conference rooms, lounges, a library, gym, swimming pool, spa, and badminton governance of the club is vested in an elected Council drawn exclusively from sitting and former MPs, with the Lok Sabha Speaker serving as the ex-officio President, the Deputy Speaker as General Secretary, and a Union Minister and Rajya Sabha Deputy Chair among the Vice-President(s). POLISHED VS RUSTIC: BJP'S CLUBHOUSE CLASHThe most crucial post in the functioning of the Constitution Club is that of Secretary (Administration), a position Rajeev Pratap Rudy — a seven-time MP — won unopposed for the past 25 years. Now, in a bid to "restore the old ways", Sanjeev Balyan is challenging the veteran Bihar MP."There are 1,237 eligible voters, but around 40 have reportedly passed away. So the voter list is under scrutiny. There are objections to allowing postal ballots. Some MPs want only physical voting. The fight isn't going to be easy for Rudy," India Today Group's political editor Himanshu Mishra said at the Netanagri show."All Maharashtra MPs were being contacted. It'll be a very interesting election. Balyan is getting votes from the South too, thanks to MP CM Ramesh (Lok Sabha MP from Andhra Pradesh) who's reportedly made a list of 175 MPs supporting Balyan. Nishikant Dubey is campaigning for him too. Balyan is in the Club daily, campaigning with Satish Gautam, Bhola Singh, Surendra Nagar," added assumed many of these members were in his corner because of his party seniority. But Balyan, with his rustic charm and Western UP Jat style, connects easily. He jokes, chats, and wins people over casually. Also, in past years, Rudy often won unopposed. This time, he is actually contesting. Rudy's supporters tried to convince Balyan to withdraw, even Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh made a call. But Balyan didn't budge," he being asked who the Congress leaders were supporting in the BJP vs BJP contest, journalist Aadesh Rawal said, "Rajiv Pratap Rudy. The English-speaking, polished crowd is with him. The Jats, Ahirs, Gujjars, and rural MPs are supporting Sanjeev Balyan," Rawal CALLS CONSTITUTION CLUB POLL 'DEMOCRACY', BALYAN BATS FOR REVIVALWith the BJP vs BJP contest hotting up, while incumbent Rudy is projecting it as a healthy democratic exercise, Baliyan is batting for "change and revival"."I was nominated about 25 years ago by the then Lok Sabha Speaker GMC Balayogi. PM Sayeed was the Deputy Speaker. Since then, all the members found my work to be satisfactory and elected me every time. It is a very good thing that elections are being held this time. Every time I was elected unopposed. So, I also used to think what is so special about me! Those who are contesting against me in the elections are also my colleagues," Rudy told the Hindi edition of the India Today if he was confident of winning, Rudy said, "This is an election in the country in which the voters are MPs. All of them are leaders. MPs will choose whoever they feel is good for them."Balyan, on the other hand, believes the Constitution Club of India needs a course correction."Once upon a time, many new and old MPs used to come to the Constitution Club, share ideas with each other, but now it is not so. Earlier, there was a competition among people to become its member, but that too is over. Some MPs told me that it should be brought back to its old form and glory. Today it is running more in a commercial way, whereas this should not happen. My purpose of contesting the election is to return its old form," Balyan told the Hindi edition of the India Today the Constitution Club election, coinciding with the end of the monsoon session, draws near, it is becoming more than just a procedural affair, like it was for over two decades. Experts see it as a reflection of shifting power dynamics, and a churn within the BJP. Whether it ends in continuity or change, the outcome will be watched and analysed beyond the elite club's walls.- EndsMust Watch
New Indian Express
26-06-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Delhi HC seeks police reply on Balyan's bail application in MCOCA case
NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court has sought a response from the city police on the bail application filed by former AAP MLA Naresh Balyan, who is currently in custody under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA). Justice Manoj Jain issued notice to the Delhi Police on Wednesday and listed the matter for further hearing on July 3. The Court also asked the superintendent of jail to submit Balyan's nominal roll along with a report on his medical condition, as the former legislator has also requested interim bail on health grounds. The Court directed the state to file an updated status report in the case. Senior Advocate Sunil Dalal, representing Balyan, told the Court that his client was arrested on December 4, 2024—the same day a trial court had granted him bail in an unrelated extortion case.
Hindustan Times
25-06-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Delhi HC issues notice in ex-MLA's bail plea
New Delhi Balyan approached the high court against a city court order rejecting his second bail application. (Representational photo/HT Archive) The Delhi high court on Wednesday issued a notice in former Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) legislator Naresh Balyan's plea, seeking bail, in connection with a Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) case lodged against him with links to UK-based gangster Kapil Sangwan. A bench of justice Manoj Jain directed the Delhi Police, represented by special public prosecutor Amit Prasad and Akhand Pratap Singh, to file a status report and scheduled the next hearing for July 3. 'Issue notice. Let an updated status report be filed by the Delhi police with advance copy to the opposite side. List before the roster bench on July 3,' the court said in its order. The court also directed Tihar Jail officials to file a report on Balyan's health. 'Besides regular bail, the petitioner is also seeking interim bail on medical grounds. Superintendent, Tihar Jail, is also requested to send a nominal roll and report about his medical condition by the next date of hearing,' the court said in its order. Balyan approached the high court against a city court order rejecting his second bail application. On May 27, a trial court refused to release Balyan on bail, concluding that there were no reasonable grounds to rule out his involvement in the case. In its 22-page order, the court also underscored the impact of a criminal nexus between a politician and a gangster. 'The criminal nexus between a politician and a gangster is perhaps the most perilous threat confronting a nation and its citizens and must be addressed with severity,' special judge Digvijay Singh said. In the high court petition, Balyan's counsel, senior advocate Sunil Dalal, asserted that he had been incarcerated since last December and that he no longer needed to be held as the police had completed their investigation of him. The plea contended that he was arrested 'frivolously', based on past FIRs and confessional statements given by two co-accused, and that there was an absence of specific or fresh allegations against him. The present case, Balyan in his plea said, represented a misuse of the stringent provisions of MCOCA. Balyan was arrested by the Delhi Police on December 4, 2024, in a case lodged by the Anti-Gang Squad (AGS) of the Crime Branch in Dwarka, over allegations of organised crime and extortion, shortly after he was granted bail in the extortion case. The extortion case stemmed from a May 31, 2022, incident, wherein a complainant received threatening messages from a caller identifying himself as Kapil Sangwan. The caller allegedly demanded ₹ 1 crore and threatened the victim of dire consequences if the amount was not paid. On January 15, the city court rejected his bail application, following which he approached the high court. The same was subsequently withdrawn on May 8, in view of the Delhi Police filing the charge sheet. On May 1, the Delhi Police filed a charge sheet against Balyan, alleging that he used his political clout to financially support Sangwan's syndicate and shield its members from arrest. The police further claimed that the former Uttam Nagar MLA allegedly used virtual private networks (VPNs), an encrypted messaging app, to communicate with Sangwan in the UK and reportedly used phones registered in the names of family members to evade detection.
The Hindu
25-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
HC asks police to respond to Balyan's bail plea in MCOCA case
The Delhi High Court on Wednesday sought a response from the city police on the bail plea of former Aam Aadmi Party MLA Naresh Balyan, who is arrested in a Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) case. The court directed the jail superintendent to submit Mr. Balyan's nominal roll and a medical status report after his counsel sought interim bail on health grounds. It also instructed the State to file an updated status report on the matter. Senior advocate Sunil Dalal, representing Mr. Balyan, submitted that his client was arrested in the MCOCA case on December 4, 2024, the day a trial court granted him bail in an alleged extortion case and has been in custody since then. The former AAP MLA was accused of being a 'facilitator' in an organised crime syndicate. A trial court denied bail to Mr. Balyan on May 27 after he withdrew an earlier bail plea from the High Court after police filed a chargesheet against him. The Delhi Police counsel argued that MCOCA provisions impose strict conditions similar to the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, and bail can only be granted if it is proven that the accused did not commit the crime, which the police claim is not met in this case. Claiming there was a 'continuous unlawful activity' to sustain invocation of MCOCA against Mr. Balyan, the special counsel for the police had said no relief could be given to him. On January 15, a trial court denied bail to Mr. Balyan after the police claimed that the investigation was at a crucial stage in the case, and the accused could hamper the probe if allowed the reprieve. The prosecutor had cited 16 FIRs lodged against the alleged syndicate members in various parts of Delhi and claimed it 'created havoc in the society and has amassed huge illegal wealth'. On January 29, the trial court even refused to release him on custody parole to enable him to 'guide' his wife who was contesting the Assembly poll in February this year.
