With the groundwork almost done, rebel Congress MP from Gurgaon, Rao Inderjit Singh could join BJP along with his supporters in December this year, just before the lok Sabha elections.
Well placed sources in BJP said the rebel leader is only waiting for the registration of his daughter Bharti Singh Rao’s new political party, Haryana Insaaf Congress with the Election Commission of India. Once the party is registered, Rao along with his supporters may announce the merger of the newly formed political party with BJP.
After the September 23 rally of Rao Inderjit, there was speculation that he would join BJP immediately by leaving his parent Congress party. He had announced in the rally not to contest the next election on a Congress ticket. Sources said that Rao Inderjit did not announce his decision to leave the party as he would have had to leave his membership of Parliament immediately as he is a Congress MP from Gurgaon.
After his announcement not to contest on a Congress ticket, an explanation was sought from Rao Inderjit. “I didn’t announce my resignation from the congress party at the Rewari public meeting, I did however say that ……..I would not be contesting the next election on the congress ticket”, said Inderjit in his clarification to AICC General Secretary in-charge of Haryana, Shakeel Ahmed.
Sources said Inderjit doesn’t want to take any risk with his political future, hence he is waiting for the registration of his own political party and then may announce his own party’s merger with BJP. BJP leaders in the state believe that Rao Inderjit’s joining the party would help it considerably in the ‘Ahir’ belt of the state in the five districts of southern Haryana.
During his visit to Chandigarh recently, BJP chief Rajnath Singh had praised Rao Inderjit though he didn’t open his cards at that time about Rao joining the saffron party. Yet the BJP chief had given enough hints that every thing is possible in the politics. “Alliance does take place before elections and after elections,” he had said.
Te differences between the rebel MP and Congress grew when he openly criticised Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda alleging discrimination with southern Haryana in development. He also demanded an inquiry into Congress President Sonia Gandhi’s son-in-law Robert Vadra’s land deals in Haryana.
Congress is in a Catch 22 situation and is yet to take action against Rao Inderjit. He is an influential leader in southern Haryana and his expulsion from the party may give wrong signal to party workers and strengthen anti Hooda lobby which could adversely affect the prospects of the party in the 2014 lok Sabha polls. Assembly elections in Haryana too would take place next year, after the parliamentary polls.