Khattar emerges as tallest non-Jat leader in state after Bhajan Lal

Sushil Manav

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 23

The emergence of Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar as the tallest non-Jat leader in the state after Bhajan Lal, a former CM, is one the biggest takeaways of the 2019 Lok Sabha poll.

The manner in which Khattar has been able to mobilise non-Jats, particularly in the past two years, he is being seen today as even a bigger leader than Bhajan Lal, who enjoyed the confidence of non-Jats for nearly three decades since 1980.

Political experts believe that apart from the Narendra Modi factor, which was definitely responsible for the BJP’s splendid performance in these Lok Sabha elections, it was the acceptance of Khattar as a tall leader of non-Jats which has helped the BJP trounce top Jat leaders of the state in their home turf.

With the party winning all 10 seats in the state, the BJP has not only humbled former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and his son Deepender Hooda in their bastions Sonepat and Rohtak, but also defeated the outfits of Chautala clan – the INLD and the JJP – hands down across the state.

Bhajan Lal had emerged as a leader of non-Jats after he first became Chief Minister by dethroning Devi Lal. He headed the Janata Party government in 1980 and made history by the defection of his entire government to the Congress after Indira Gandhi returned to power that year.

From 1980 till 2005 when Hooda outsmarted him to get the Congress high command’s nod for him to lead the party’s government in the state, Bhajan Lal remained an undisputed non-Jat leader in the state.

Such was his influence among the non-Jats in the state that he was able to win over several BJP leaders to his fold and during his tenure the BJP’s support base shrank.

However, Khattar has been able to prove in the past two years that he is even a bigger leader of the non-Jats than Bhajan Lal.

Political observers believe that while the February 2016 violence in Haryana over reservation to the Jat community in which properties of non-Jats were set on fire was one major reason behind mobilisation of non-Jats behind Khattar, the CM was also able to endear himself to classes who had remained politically deprived so far by bringing transparency in governance.

“Nearly 70,000 people have been recruited to Group C and D posts, including those of constables, patwari, teachers and others in a transparent manner without any favour or corruption, a thing which was unheard of in the past. Even in recruitment of posts like HCS, there has no complaint of corruption,” said sources.

Though signals of Khattar’s acceptance as a tall leader in the state had started coming during the past three years, the first glimpse of his prowess was witnessed by people when he single-handedly won mayoral elections for five municipal corporations – Rohtak, Hisar, Karnal, Panipat and Yamunanagar – in December last year.

He followed this up by the emphatic victory for the BJP nominee in Jind byelection, where the Congress had fielded its senior leader Randeep Singh Surjewala and the JJP had fielded Digvijay Singh Chautala.

Khattar himself, however, does not like to be termed as a leader of non-Jats.

He even writes his name as Manohar Lal and does not mention his sub-caste “Khattar” in the official records.

“I have always given the slogan of Haryana Ek, Haryanvi Ek. People from all castes and creeds have come together to defeat the Opposition and to bring Prime Minister Narendra Modi back to power,” said Khattar.

CM Came in for praise at PM Modi’s rallies  

Chief Manohar Lal Khattar’s importance in the BJP can be gauged from the fact that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who almost never mentioned the names of his party’s candidates in his rallies and sought votes in the name of “fir ek baar Modi sarkaar”, never forgot to devote time on the transparency in governance provided by Khattar. 

Believes in ‘Haryana Ek, Haryanvi Ek’

Khattar does not like to be termed as a leader of non-Jats. He even writes his name as Manohar Lal and does not mention his sub-caste “Khattar” in official records. “I have always given the slogan of  ‘Haryana Ek, Haryanvi Ek’. 

"BJP’s win is the result of pro-incumbency in favour of unprecedented development undertaken by the BJP under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In Haryana, it is win for development and defeat of dynastic politics." — Manohar Lal Khattar, Chief Minister

"The resounding success of the BJP across the country and Haryana is the vote for development and beginning of the end of the dynastic politics and politics of regionalism and caste-based divisions."  — Capt Abhimanyu, Finance Minister

"People of the country went with the Modi wave. We gave a tight contest to the saffron party in the Sonepat and Rohtak constituencies. We accept the public mandate. The Election Commission failed to maintain its image in these elections." —Bhupinder Singh Hooda, former Chief Minister

"The ‘Modi tsunami’ has swept away the Opposition across the country and Haryana. It is the victory of our positive nationalist agenda and defeat of the Opposition’s negative agenda and lack of vision."  ——Ram Bilas Sharma, Education Minister

"As an MP, I worked for 14 years from 2005 to 2019 for the development of Rohtak and its people. I will continue to work for them and raise their issues prominently to mount pressure on the government for their redressal." —Deepender Hooda, Congress Rohtak candidate

"I have learnt from Devi Lal not to panic in difficult situations and to move forward with more force. I accept my defeat. The party will continue to struggle for the people. The JJP is the only alternative to the BJP in Haryana." —Dushyant Chautala, JJP leader

"People voted in huge numbers in response to several development initiatives and transparent governance. I thank the people of the Gurgaon Lok Sabha segment and hardworking BJP workers for the support. People know that I stood by them." —Rao Inderjit Singh, BJP leader

We promise to keep up the spirit of the ‘chowkidar’. We are passionate about building a ‘New India’. The BJP’s victory is the victory of social and economic reforms, and inclusive growth. — Krishan Pal Gurjar, union minister 

"t’s a victory of the people and the policies of Modi and Khattar governments. I am thankful to the people of Kurukshetra who came out and voted for the development of the country. Promoting Kurukshetra as a religious tourist spot and generating jobs will be my priority."—Nayab Singh Saini, BJP leader