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The Print
04-08-2025
- Politics
- The Print
BJP's ‘resort politics' goes international, 12 councillors flown to Nepal ahead of Manesar civic polls
The high-voltage drama plays out against the backdrop of a tumultuous factional rivalry within the BJP, which pits the faction of erstwhile Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, supported by state minister Rao Narbir Singh, against Union Minister of State Rao Inderjit Singh, who enjoys immense support in the Ahirwal region. In an attempt to prevent cross-voting, the party has sent 12 councillors to Nepal, following previous trips to Goa and Guwahati. Gurugram: 'Resort politics' has gone international, that too with civic polls. The BJP is sending its councillors from Manesar beyond the country's borders—to Nepal. This comes ahead of the election for Senior Deputy Mayor and Deputy Mayor in the Manesar Municipal Corporation on 5 August. The rivalry, laden with regional and caste factors, has turned the Manesar civic elections into a battle for dominance in Haryana's BJP. Ajit Singh Yadav, President of the Manesar BJP, declined to comment on this issue. Contacted by ThePrint, Yadav said that he had too many organisational responsibilities and couldn't get into these issues. A senior BJP leader from Gurugram district, however, confirmed requesting anonymity, that the councillors are in Nepal. In a picture in a section of the media, the MCs were seen leaving a restaurant in Kathmandu. The BJP leader told ThePrint that the councillors are going to be transported directly to the conference hall at Manesar on election day with no stops along the way to keep out external influences. The BJP's 'resort politics' is a result of its loss in the Manesar mayoral election earlier this year, where independent candidate Dr Inderjeet Kaur, an outspoken sympathiser of Rao Inderjit, won the coveted post. Even after forceful campaigning by Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, Khattar and Rao Narbir, the party could not win the mayoral seat, and seven of its councillors were elected in the 20-member civic body. After the defeat, Rao Narbir acted fast, inducting seven independent councillors to push the BJP count to 14. However, fearing cross-voting, the BJP is not taking any chances, according the BJP leader quoted earlier. The move to quarantine councillors in Nepal reflects the party's resolve to prevent another shocker, particularly after the mayoral defeat exposed fissures within its ranks. The BJP's 'resort politics' reminds one of Haryana politics before the anti-defection law was enacted in India in 1985, when political parties would send their MLAs to distant resorts to protect them from poaching by the rival political party in the state, infamous for the 'Aya Ram and Gaya Ram' brand of politics. In 2019, NCP leader Sonia Doohan had 'rescued' four of her party's MLAs from a hotel in the BJP-ruled Haryana's Gurugram when Devendra Fadnavis was trying to form a government in Maharashtra with the help of Ajit Pawar. More recently, the Haryana BJP had shifted six Congress MLAs from Himachal Pradesh to a government rest house and later to a hotel in Panchkula ahead of the Rajya Sabha elections in February 2024. At the heart of this 'resort politics' saga now is the long-standing rivalry between Khattar and Rao Inderjit. The latter, a six-time MP from Gurugram and a scion of Rewari's erstwhile royal family, has never shied away from critiquing Khattar's leadership. The factionalism extends to the state level, with Rao Narbir, a Khattar loyalist, having a confrontation with Rao Inderjit. In 2019, Narbir was denied a ticket for the Assembly elections, a step credited to Rao Inderjit's influence. Narbir got a ticket, though, in 2024 after meeting Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and won from Badshahpur and was appointed a minister to counterbalance power in Ahirwal. The defeat in the Manesar mayoral election, though, was a personal setback for Narbir, who had campaigned hard for BJP's nominee Sunder Lal. Dr Kaur's win, supported by Rao Inderjit's faction, aggravated the divide. Rao Narbir Singh didn't respond to calls made to his mobile phone. (Edited by Viny Mishra) Also read: 'Tried to divide us for 10 yrs.' Why Rao Inderjit is taking on fellow Union minister Khattar
NDTV
08-07-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
Manesar Mayor Alleges Haryana Minister Harassed Her Family
Gurugram: Mayor of Manesar Municipal Corporation, Indrajit Yadav, on Tuesday accused Haryana minister Rao Narbir Singh of harassing her family members, days after her husband was booked in an assault case. At a panchayat in Hayatpur village, Indrajit Yadav burst into tears while alleging that her husband Rakesh has been falsely implicated in the case and that police are acting under the pressure of minister Singh, a member of the panchayat said. A video of the mayor crying in the panchayat went viral on social media, he added. "Police are harassing me and my husband in this case. A false case has been filed against my husband under the pressure of Rao Narbir," the mayor alleged. Despite several attempts, state minister Singh could not be contacted for comments. Last month, Manesar councillor Dayaram's cousin Pradeep was attacked. It is alleged that the attackers snatched his gold chain and Rs 12,000 cash from him. An FIR was registered at Kherki Daula police station against one Paramjeet, a resident of Shikohpur village and others, including mayor's husband Rakesh, according to police. In the panchayat, while levelling serious allegations against Singh, the mayor claimed that the minister is unable to tolerate the defeat of his favourite candidate in the mayoral polls and that is why he is harassing her family members. In the assault case, the Gurugram police had issued a notice to mayor's husband Rakesh and had asked him to come to the police station. But Rakesh did not come to the police station to record his statement, police had said earlier. It may be noted that in the mayoral polls, BJP candidate Sundar Lal Yadav was defeated by independent candidate Yadav. When contacted, a senior police officer said that the assault case is under investigation.
