BJP heavyweight and six-time MP Rao Inderjit Singh, who holds significant influence in the southern Haryana belt, is believed to be disgruntled with both the state leadership and the high command due to perceived negligence. In response, he has criticised his party over the Bandhwari landfill issue, stating that he will join the villagers in a dharna against the government if the garbage is not removed by December. Singh has voiced concerns about water bodies, soil, and groundwater contamination in the region surrounding the landfill. According to statistics, approximately 16 lakh metric tonnes of garbage were in the Bandhwari landfill as of April. Despite a ban imposed by the NGT, 2300 tonnes of new garbage arrive at the Bandhwari plant daily.
Rao Inderjit is reportedly upset with the BJP over the denial of a Union Minister post and assembly tickets for him and his daughter. His recent statements against his party are seen as part of a pressure campaign ahead of the forthcoming assembly polls in October.
Urban Local Bodies Minister and MLA from Thanesar, Subhash Sudha, responded by asserting that the state government is committed to removing the garbage from the site. Of the approximately 19 lakh tonnes of garbage, 9 lakh tonnes have been disposed of, and the remaining 10 lakh tonnes will be removed soon. “Rao Inderjit is one of the most senior leaders of the party, and required steps will be taken to address the issue,” Sudha added.
Rao Inderjit has widespread acceptability in over a dozen seats in Southern Haryana. The BJP has organised many rallies in this area ahead of recent parliamentary polls to galvanise the people and secure as many seats as possible through Singh’s stronghold. These assembly seats include Rewari, Bawal, Kosli, Mahendragarh, Narnaul, Nangal Chaudhary, Gurugram, Sohna, Badshahpur, Pataudi, Nuh, Ferozepur Jhirka, and Punhana. Given his strong electoral support in the Ahirwal belt, no faction can afford to ignore him.
When the new cabinet was formed in Haryana in March 2024, Rao Inderjit’s opponents were given cabinet positions, while one of his supporters, a former cabinet minister, was denied a berth. This decentralised the power of Singh, who has significant political influence in South Haryana, known as the Ahirwal belt. His confidant and former minister OP Yadav not receiving a cabinet position was a significant blow, further compounded by his arch-rival Abhay Singh Yadav being appointed to the cabinet. This clearly indicated that the party does not want Singh to have unilateral control in South Haryana. The BJP had wanted to make Abhay Singh Yadav a minister previously, but due to Singh’s disagreement, he was excluded from the cabinet.
Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi referred to Rao Inderjit as his friend at a program in Gurugram and the BJP fielded him from the Gurugram seat for the third time.