The political permutations and combinations following the collapse of the ruling BJP-JJP alliance and the angst against BJP government among the Jats in state, have catapulted the community to the centre stage and jeopardized what was being predicted as an easy win for BJP, writes Aayush Goel
In the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections, a significant political shift in Haryana has yet again pivoted the elections around the prominent Jat community of the state. The shifting of leaders from one party to another, major being the return of former Union Minister Chaudhary Birender Singh along with his son, the incumbent MP from Hisar, Brijender Singh and wife Prem Lata, to the Congress after 10 years, the collapse of Jannayak Janta Party (JJP), speculations of its reunion with Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) and angst against BJP government amongst farmers, primarily Jats in state, has put community at the centre stage and jeopardised what was being predicted as an easy win for BJP.
Jat leaders have dominated Haryana politics since the formation of the state in 1966 even though the community accounts for only 28 percent of the state’s population. In the last 58 years, the state has been ruled by Jat chief ministers for 33 years. Bhagwat Dyal Sharma, Rao Birender Singh, Bhajan Lal, Manohar Lal Khattar, and current CM Nayab Singh Saini have been the members from the non-jat community, who have occupied the CM’s chair in the state so far. According to political analysts, though the community is focusing on forthcoming assembly elections influencing a minimum of 36 out of 90 assembly segments, but with changed equations now, they will be key deciding factors in at least four of the 10 parliamentary constituencies – Sirsa, Hisar, Rohtak, and Sonipat. Having virtually been out of power for 10 years the community is out to reclaim its supremacy in state.
Framers’ angst against BJP and JJP
In Haryana, farmers are primarily Jats who have been up against the BJP led centre government since farmers protest in 2021, and wrestler’s agitation thereafter. The sentiment seeped down and resulted in community’s antagonism towards the state’s BJP-JJP government, and flared up after the recent faceoff with farmers at Shambhu border in Ambala. The resentment is now showing up with farmers reportedly shooing away BJP and JJP leaders when they reach the villages for campaigning. Mohan Lal Badoli, BJP candidate from Sonipat parliamentary seat, went to campaign at Rohna village earlier this month, he was surrounded by hundreds of jeering and protesting farmers. The escalating situation forced Badoli to cut short his election speech and hurry away.
