‘Sidelined’ Bishnoi flexes muscles on Bhajan Lal’s death anniversary; Haryana BJP leadership makes a bid to placate the family and their supporters

GURUGRAM: Two-time Lok Sabha MP and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Kuldeep Bishnoi on Wednesday in Hisar said that he was planning to take a “very big decision” in the wake of “controversial” remarks by the party’s Rajya Sabha MP Rekha Sharma targetting his father, late Chaudhary Bhajan Lal, over a month ago, but refrained from doing so since “politics does not run only on emotions”.

He made the claim in an over nine-minute video posted on his “X” account on the 15th death anniversary of former three-time Chief Minister.

The “row” had erupted on April 24 when Ms. Sharma, at a campaign rally for the party’s Panchkula mayoral candidate, alleged that Bhajan Lal and his son, Congress MLA Chander Mohan, used to win elections through “badmashi” (hooliganism). She later released a video apology and withdrew her comments.

Show of strength

The Wednesday’s event turned into a show of strength by the Bhajan Lal family, which has seen its influence wane in State politics in recent years.

Mr. Bishnoi, who quit the Congress in 2022 after being denied the State president’s post and joined the BJP, has faced a series of political setbacks. The BJP overlooked him for the Hisar Lok Sabha ticket in 2024. The party also chose former Excise and Taxation Minister Kiran Choudhary for the Rajya Sabha seat that fell vacant in August 2024.

He was also not considered for two Rajya Sabha seats earlier this year. The biggest blow came in the 2024 Assembly poll when the family lost its bastion Adampur, a seat it had held for over five decades, as his son Bhavya Bishnoi was defeated by the Congress’ Chander Prakash Jangra.

Pointing at the huge turnout on the occasion of his father’s death anniversary, Mr. Bishnoi said he felt sorry for the “immature thinking” and remarks by a few “narrow-minded” people who say that “Kuldeep Bishnoi is finished politically and now confined to Adampur”.

In an apparent bid to placate the family and its supporters, Chief Minister Nayab Saini visited Bhajan Lal’s memorial and paid floral tributes. “The contribution of late Chaudhary Bhajan Lal in the making of modern Haryana and the development of the State will always be remembered,” Mr. Saini said.

He had also called on the family at their Delhi residence on June 1.

Mr. Bishnoi said the decision to “forgive” Ms. Sharma was not taken “in haste” but after consultations with well wishers. “I am satisfied with the respect shown again by the BJP and the support the party is extending,” he added.

Cutting across party lines, political leaders across the State paid tributes to Bhajan Lal.

Published - June 03, 2026 10:21 pm IST