Haryana Elections: Rebellion In BJP Continues, Former MLA Balkaur Singh Quits

Haryana polls: Former BJP MLA Balkaur Singh resigned citing disrespect within the party. He was denied the Kalanwali ticket.

Haryana election: Sardar Balkaur Singh has resigned from the primary membership of the party.

Source : Facebook

Haryana Election: The BJP suffered a major setback on Saturday, September 7, when former MLA Balkaur Singh quit the party. He said he was disrespected in the party, which led him to resign from the BJP and join the Congress. "I served BJP with body, mind and money for 5 years but I was not given any respect or government post which I deserve. That is why I am leaving BJP and joining Congress," he said.

Former MLA Balkaur Singh was expecting a ticket for the Kalanwali Assembly seat in Sirsa, but was denied. He is now headed to Delhi with other leaders where they will join the Congress. Among the other BJP members who quit are Sirsa district councillor, block committee chairman, block committee members, sarpanches, former sarpanches, panchayat committee members, and former city councillors.

Balkaur Singh switched to the Bharatiya Janata Party from the Shiromani Akali Dal in 2019 before Haryana Assembly election. He was the only SAD MLA in the Haryana Assembly at the time. He contested the Kalanwali seat on a BJP ticket but lost to Congress's Shishpal Singh by a margin of over 30,000 votes. He was hoping for a ticket this year as well.

When Balkaur Singh joined the saffron party, the BJP-SAD alliance was still in place. However, the move definitely soured the relations between the two parties.

#WATCH सिरसा: पूर्व विधायक बलकौर सिंह ने भाजपा से इस्तीफा देने पर कहा, "मैंने तन-मन-धन से भाजपा की 5 साल सेवा की लेकिन मुझे कोई मान सम्मान या सरकारी पद नहीं दिया गया जिसके मैं लायक हूं। इसलिए मैं भाजपा छोड़कर कांग्रेस में शामिल हो रहा हूं..." pic.twitter.com/hK0kwdbwXN

— ANI_HindiNews (@AHindinews) September 7, 2024

After quitting the BJP on Saturday, MLA. Balkaur Singh slammed the BJP's Kalanwali candidate Rajinder Singh Desujodha, pointing out that former Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar had levelled serious allegations against him in 2019. Desujodha had then left the BJP after being denied a ticket and was fielded by the SAD in Kalanwali. He beat Balkaur Singh but lost to Congress's Shishpal Singh.

However, he returned to the BJP fold in July this year and was welcomed by CM Nayab Singh Saini.

Rajinder Singh Desujodha and Balkaur Singh went up against each other in 2014 as well. Back then Balkaur had defeated him to become the Kalanwali MLA. it remains to be seen whether the Congress gives him a ticket. In Kalanwali, the party has fielded its sitting MLA Shishpal Singh.