Key Congress Leaders Defect to BJP in Haryana as Party Struggles with Factionalism
Haryana Congress Faces Major Setback as Senior Leaders Join BJP
In a significant political shift, senior Congress leader Ram Niwas Rara, who has contested the last two Haryana assembly elections from Hisar, officially joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday, February 19, 2025, in Chandigarh. Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini welcomed Rara with the traditional BJP scarf, signaling another blow to the already fragmented Haryana Congress.
This defection comes just a day after Tarlochan Singh, another prominent Congress leader from Karnal, made a similar move to join the BJP. Singh had contested against former Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar in the 2019 assembly elections and again faced off with CM Saini in the 2024 assembly by-elections.
Rara and Singh’s departure from the Congress was accompanied by the exit of several local-level party leaders, including Ashok Khurana and advocate Arvind Mann alias Nittu Mann, who also joined the BJP. With over 30 party leaders leaving for the ruling BJP, the Congress’s woes are far from over.
A Wave of Defections Amid Haryana’s Political Turmoil
The latest round of defections is just part of a growing trend that has been unfolding in Haryana. On February 15, two-time MLA Bishan Lal Saini from Radaur left Congress and joined the BJP. These defections come at a critical juncture, just ahead of Haryana’s upcoming municipal elections on March 2, 2025. Many analysts view these exits as signs of deep-rooted issues within the state Congress, which has struggled to regain its footing in Haryana since it was ousted from power in 2014.
The Haryana Congress, plagued by internal factionalism and leadership instability, has struggled to present a united front. Despite a series of changes in leadership, with three state presidents in just over a decade—Ashok Tanwar, Kumari Selja, and current President Udai Bhan—the party has failed to make significant electoral gains or establish a solid grassroots base.
Congress Leaders Criticize the Departing Members
The defections have been met with sharp criticism from Congress leadership, with state president Udai Bhan calling the departing leaders “opportunists.” Bhan accused the defectors of leaving the party in search of personal benefits and claimed they were lured by the “malai” (benefits) associated with aligning with the ruling BJP. “They know that if they remain with us, they have to struggle for another five years,” Bhan remarked, referring to the party’s uphill battle to regain power in the state.
This wave of defections highlights a deeper crisis within the Haryana Congress, which is struggling to regain its political edge. The party’s repeated failures in the last three assembly elections and its inability to offer a viable alternative to the ruling BJP have left many of its senior leaders feeling politically sidelined.
Leadership Instability and Electoral Setbacks for Congress
The challenges facing Congress in Haryana are not new. Since losing power in 2014, the party has struggled to regain momentum. In the run-up to the 2024 Haryana assembly elections, the party saw further defections, including the exit of senior leader Kiran Choudhry and her daughter Shruti Choudhry. These exits exemplify the growing dissatisfaction among Congress’s leadership.
In response to the mounting pressure, Congress Haryana in-charge Deepak Babaria took steps to reorganize the party, releasing a list of nearly 250 new office-bearers, district heads, and coordinators for the north and south zones. However, Babaria’s efforts were quickly criticized, particularly by the Bhupinder Singh Hooda faction of Congress. Hooda’s supporters, including MP Varun Chaudhary, suggested that the party should prioritize appointing a legislature party leader before focusing on organizational changes.
Shortly thereafter, Babaria was replaced by B.K. Hariprasad as the new in-charge of Haryana Congress, but the damage had already been done. Critics argue that the party’s leadership struggles, combined with factional infighting, have only worsened the situation and given the BJP an opening to poach key Congress leaders.
A Strategic Move for Political Survival
Political analysts believe the defections of leaders like Ram Niwas Rara and Tarlochan Singh signal a deeper, structural problem within the Haryana Congress. According to Jyoti Mishra, a researcher at the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS), the defections reflect the growing disillusionment among Congress’s senior leadership. Mishra pointed out that after three consecutive electoral defeats, Congress has failed to offer a coherent strategy or inspire confidence among its members.
“For these leaders, switching sides is not just opportunism; it is a survival strategy in a state where Congress lacks direction and electoral momentum,” Mishra explained. With the party showing no signs of regaining power, these leaders have opted to align themselves with the BJP, which is currently the dominant political force in Haryana.
Defections Reflect Growing Challenges for Congress Ahead of Municipal Polls
As Haryana prepares for its municipal elections, these defections underscore Congress’s ongoing struggle to retain its senior leadership. The party’s inability to offer strong leadership or maintain internal cohesion has raised questions about its viability in the state. With the BJP firmly entrenched in power, many former Congress leaders see the ruling party as their only avenue for political survival.
As the municipal elections approach, these defections could have significant consequences for both the Congress and BJP, as well as for Haryana’s political landscape in the years to come. The question now is whether Congress can recover from this internal crisis or if the defections signal a more permanent shift in Haryana’s political alignment.
Conclusion: A Turning Point for Haryana’s Politics
The defections of key Congress leaders to the BJP mark a pivotal moment in Haryana’s political history. As the party grapples with factionalism and electoral setbacks, these departures reflect deeper issues within Congress. With the BJP capitalizing on the opposition’s instability, the future of Congress in Haryana remains uncertain as the state heads into municipal elections. It remains to be seen whether Congress can regroup or if the BJP’s influence will continue to grow unchecked.