Senior BJP leader Kuldeep Bishnoi recently commented that not only are the doors, but even the windows are closed for Congress. Bishnoi made it clear that he has no intention of returning to Congress. He continued to emphasize that Rahul Gandhi had made four promises to him, none of which were fulfilled. Kuldeep Bishnoi was speaking at the Panchayat Aaj Tak Haryana 2024 event. During the discussion, he openly addressed his distance from Congress, his dissatisfaction with Rahul Gandhi, and his transition to joining BJP.
He recalled tweeting out his frustrations when Udaibhan became the Congress President, urging Rahul Gandhi to respond to his unmet promises. Bishnoi pointed out that Rahul Gandhi avoided meeting him, likely because he is known for being very blunt. He made it clear that he would only stay with Congress if Gandhi addressed his concerns; otherwise, he would leave the party. During the Rajya Sabha elections, he openly voted for Kartikeya Sharma.
Bishnoi stressed that since leaving Congress, he has had no communication with Rahul Gandhi. “Not only are the doors closed for Congress, but even the windows are shut,” he emphasized. When asked if BJP delivered on its promises, he responded that he joined BJP without any expectations. In BJP, he found respect and was made Co-Incharge of Rajasthan. He was assigned duties in 27 constituencies and won 22 of them. He was also appointed as the head of the election management committee in this election.
Addressing questions about his dissatisfaction over not getting a Lok Sabha ticket, Bishnoi explained that the party didn't want to confine him to just one seat and wanted him to contribute to multiple seats in Haryana and Rajasthan. Initially, he was upset when the ticket was announced. His supporters gathered outside his home from morning to evening, expressing their dissatisfaction. He spent five to seven days trying to console them. The media picked up on his absence and reported that he was upset. Chief Minister Khattar saw the video, and Bishnoi clarified to him that he wasn’t upset but needed time to integrate into the system.
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For the Lok Sabha election campaign, Bishnoi mentioned that he went to Sirsa, Hisar, and even Jodhpur, actively participating in the campaign. When he joined BJP, he had a meeting with Amit Shah, expressing that for the first time, the Bhajanlal family is steering away from Congress. He emphasized that his only demand was to respect his workers in Haryana and Rajasthan, and that has been happening. His son's single assembly constituency approved projects worth Rs 800 crore in just one and a half years.
Bhajanlal family's influence has grown
On the question of why the influence of the three Lal families is shrinking, Bishnoi claimed their legacy has multiplied. There are 37 Bisnoi-dominated constituencies in Rajasthan, and he was asked to visit 34 of them. He managed to go to 27 and won 22 of those constituencies. He stated that he is the guardian of the Bishnoi community and was appointed as the in-charge of Modi’s rally on the 28th. Their family influence hasn’t diminished, it has only grown.
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Regarding the Devi Lal family, Bishnoi mentioned there are no personal rivalries. The split in the Devi Lal family has harmed their vote bank; some votes went to BJP, and some went to Hooda. Such splits have caused the family turmoil. Bishnoi said that Dushyant Chautala is struggling to even rank second or third in his seat. He expressed confidence in Shruti Chaudhary’s victory from Tosham, considering Bansi Lal’s strong legacy there.
Pro-incumbency in Haryana, not anti-incumbency
On the question of BJP facing losses, Bishnoi stated that there is pro-incumbency in Haryana. The Khattar government made many decisions over the past ten years, some of which were beneficial and some had flaws. Changes brought about by the Saini government will provide advantages. Bishnoi remarked that not a single Congress MP resigned during the farmer and wrestler protests.
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He acknowledged that wrestlers are the pride of our nation and that their protests could have been handled better. Bishnoi commented that Aam Aadmi Party does not have any significant presence in Haryana. The main issue in Haryana is the SYL canal. Despite Supreme Court orders, Punjab has blocked Haryana’s water. He asserted that during elections, things can change overnight, and the situation will unfold soon.
