Several leaders from ruling BJP were running from pillar to post for the lone Rajya Sabha seat vacated after resignation of party leader Krishan Panwar after Haryana Assembly Elections.
However, the schedule for the election has not been announced yet by the Election Commission. But several party leaders, especially those who faced defeat in assembly elections, were making rounds to Delhi to strengthen their claim.
As per the internal party sources senior BJP leader Kuldeep Bishnoi was reportedly struggling hard to get the seat for his son and former Adampur MLA Bhavya Bishnoi. Bhavya is the grandson of former Chief Minister late Bhajan Lal was the first member of the Bishnoi family who faced defeat from Congress ‘ Chander Prakash by a margin of 1268 votes. This was the Bishnoi family’s first defeat since 1968 from Adampur. Besides, Bhavya the seat was also represented by several members from Bishnoi family including Bhajan Lal, his wife Jasma Devi, Kuldeep Bishnoi and his wife Renuka Bishnoi.
Making his claims stronger for the RS seat, Kuldeep Bishnoi had recently met Vice-President and Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar along with Bhavya and other family members. Former Karnal MLA Sanjya Bhatia is also being considered among front runners for this Rajya Sabha nomination from BJP. Bhatia- a close aid of former Haryana Chief Minister and present Union Minister Manohar Lal had left his Karnal seat for Manohar Lal. Earlier, Bhatia’s name was also doing rounds for the BJP State president’s post but the party picked Mohan Lal Badholi strategically shifting focus to Brahmin Community ahead of crucial Lok Sabha and Assembly Elections. Being a Punjabi and also hailing from the GT Road belt Bhatia is being considered as a strong contender for the RS seat. Meanwhile, some internal sources claimed that party’s state president Mohan Lal Badoli was making efforts for his nomination. However Badoli had failed to win Lok Sabha election from the Sonipat constituency. Even he did not contest the assembly elections held in October.
With Badoli comes from Brahmin community his chances of getting the Rajya Sabha seat are meager as the party had already given two ministerial berths to MLAs from Brahmin community in the Nayab Singh Saini cabinet.
During an interaction with the media persons Badoli made it clear that he was not in the race for the Rajya Sabha candidate but he also hinted that the party may give another surprise by picking up a new face. “This is the BJP and the names being projected by the media unlikely to get a green signal from the party”, said Badoli.
Moreover, other senior leaders of the party who were allegedly trying to get the Rajya Sabha nomination include former Agriculture Minister OP Dhankar, former ministers Subhash Sudha, Kanwar Pal and Kamal Gupta and who recently lost the assembly elections.
The Rajya Sabha seat fallen vacant after Krishan Panwar was elected as MLA from Israna assembly constituency and later he was elevated as cabinet minister.
The party has required number for a comfortable victory with the BJP had won 48 seats in the house of 90 members. Moreover, three independent MLAs have also extended support to the BJP government. Before the Assembly Elections, the party had also elected estranged Congress leader Kiran Chaudhry for the Rajya Sabha seat fallen vacant after resignation of Congress MP Deepender Hooda, who contested Lok Sabha election from Rohtak.
