Rao versus Rao feud intensifies as rebel MCG councillors return to BJP

The long-running Rao versus Rao saga in Gurugram has flared up once again with seven rebel and expelled Independent MCG councillors returning to the BJP fold.

At least five of these councillors belong to the camp of Rao Inderjit Singh, the local MP and Union Minister, giving him an edge in the forthcoming elections for Senior Deputy Mayor and Deputy Mayor. The move has unsettled the rival Rao Narbir group, which had recently secured both posts in the Manesar Corporation.

The returning councillors, five of whom had been expelled by the party six years ago, were welcomed back at the Chief Minister’s residence in the presence of the CM and the state BJP president. While Rao Inderjit is reportedly behind this “ghar wapsi,” he chose to remain silent, refusing to comment.

One of his close associates explained, “BJP has taken back its trusted workers. There was mistake in ticket allocation but that cannot be allowed to impact party. So they were called back.”

The councillors returning to the party include Parminder Kataria, Pradeep Param, Mahavir Yadav, Dinesh Dahiya, Avneesh Raghav, Prashant Bhardwaj and Gagandeep Kirod. All of them had sought BJP tickets but, after being denied, contested as Independent candidates. Many of their early posters even featured Rao Inderjit’s photograph, which were later withdrawn.

The move gives Rao Inderjit Singh an upper hand in the upcoming senior Deputy Mayor and Deputy Mayor elections, rattling the Rao Narbir camp that had previously won similar elections in Manesar.

This is not the first time Rao Inderjit’s camp has employed the tactic of contesting independently and later rejoining the party, a strategy that has for years ensured the supremacy of his faction in the MCG.

While Rao Narbir Singh refused to comment, one of the councillors in his camp said, “We are here to serve people and don't indulge in petty politics. It’s a party decision and we respect it. No matter who gets the position, MCG will be one united House."

Rao Narbir’s camp, meanwhile, had secured the senior deputy mayor and deputy mayoral positions about a month ago, following resort politics and a Nepal trip.

Congress leader Vardhan Yadav criticised the developments, saying, “BJP suffered from acute factionalisation and was compromising public welfare for same. The party is a joke that works on pressure politics. First they expel people and befool voters and then take them back. Those who were reprimanded for anti-party activities few months ago are being felicitated by CM himself. The two Raos continue to fight and people suffer. None of them is ready to be accountable for the civic mess or put things right in MCG but busy with internal politics of the House.”