After gangrape charges, Haryana BJP chief Badoli may not get his ‘imminent’ second term
Politics, especially in a small but politically significant state like Haryana that shares its border with Delhi, can be uncertain.
Until January 14, Haryana BJP chief Mohan Lal Badoli was anxiously awaiting his imminent anointment as the state president again. However, with allegations of gangrape by a New Delhi-based woman surfacing against him and singer Rocky Mittal, his reappointment may run into rough weather, forcing the saffron party to look for a replacement.
For Brahmin leader Badoli, who along with party’s OBC face and CM Nayab Singh Saini is credited with the BJP’s hat-trick in Haryana — a first in the state’s electoral history — the allegations, which he has termed “baseless”, are a bolt from the blue.
The incident is also a huge embarrassment for the BJP ahead of the Haryana municipal poll and the crucial Assembly elections in Delhi where the party is desperate to end the 10-year Aam Aadmi Party rule.
Buoyed by the enrollment of over 43 lakh members in Haryana, the saffron party is currently in the process of organisational revamp. With elections to the booth and mandal chiefs almost over, the elections to BJP’s district presidents will shortly commence. After the completion of district chiefs’ poll, the re-election of Badoli seemed to be a foregone conclusion until the gangrape allegations surfaced.
During his short span of just over six months, Badoli is credited with ensuring the BJP’s third term in office. In fact, the Saini-Badoli combination proved to be a game-changer for the party in the October 5 Assembly poll when it defeated an “overconfident” Congress.
Now, in the changed political scenario, the hopes of other claimants for the top post have revived. When Badoli took charge as the BJP chief in July last year, several other names, including of ex-MP Sanjay Bhatia, former minister Manish Grover and Ajay Gaur, were also in the contention.
Besides, there are three other senior leaders, general secretaries--Krishan Bedi, Archana Gupta and Surinder Punia.
Badoli was also a general secretary before his elevation as the party chief.
Though it’s natural for the Opposition to demand Badoli’s resignation, BJP minister Anil Vij too has said that the state president should step down until he gets a clean chit.
With the Delhi Assembly elections approaching and the Haryana municipal poll round the corner, the party high command is virtually running against time to take the final call on Badoli. Whatever the decision, the BJP’s internal politics is spiced up, for sure.
