Brijendra, who is perhaps the first sitting MP to leave the ruling BJP at a time when leaders of other parties are making a beeline to join the saffron outfit, cited three main factors for feeling “uncomfortable” in BJP – farmers, women wrestlers and Agniveer scheme for recruitment into the armed forces.
“The BJP-JJP alliance was also another major reason behind my unease in BJP,” he said while talking to mediapersons.
Brijendra said that on October 2, 2023, his family had conveyed its views against the BJP’s alliance with Haryana deputy chief minister Dushyant Chautala’s JJP in a rally. His father Birender had then served an ultimatum to BJP, virtually threatening to quit if the party continued its alliance with the JJP, which he accused of indulging in rampant corruption, in Haryana.
Sources said the high possibility of BJP tying up with the JJP for the Lok Sabha elections could have prompted Brijendra’s decision. There was speculation that he may be replaced as Hisar MP and would not be fielded again from the constituency by BJP as JJP was demanding the seat.
Highly-placed sources confirmed to TOI that Congress may field Brijendra from Hisar parliamentary seat from where he had won on a BJP ticket in the 2019 polls with a margin of around 3.14 lakh votes. His home assembly constituency Uchana also comes under Hisar parliamentary seat. He could also be fielded from the Sonipat seat as three assembly seats – Jind, Safidon and Julana of his home district Jind – fall in this constituency.
When asked if his father (Birender Singh) would also follow him, senior Congress leader Ajay Makan intervened, saying Birender would join Congress in a public meeting.
Both Brijendra and Birender have been vocal against JJP for a long time and demanded BJP disassociate itself from JJP. Dushyant had defeated Brijendra Singh’s mother Premlata Singh from Uchana assembly seat in the 2019 assembly polls.
Even though Brijendra resigned from BJP and as the Hisar MP, he would be entitled to all benefits/facilities of being a former MP for the duration of his tenure as a parliamentarian.
Bureaucrat-turned-politician
Brijendra Singh, 51, is a graduate from Delhi’s St Stephen’s College, has a master’s degree from JNU and another master’s degree from King’s College, London. He cleared UPSC and was selected into the 1988 batch of IAS after securing the 9th rank. He served as an IAS officer for around 21 years before joining politics in 2019.
Deputy CM Dushyant takes a jibe
Immediately after Brijendra switched parties, Dushyant took a jibe at his political opponent, saying, “Dar dar pe jakar dua badalte hain, log khud nahin badalte, khuda badalte hain.” (Instead of changing themselves, people keep changing their loyalties).” The Hisar MP’s father Birender Singh responded by saying that at least they had not prostrated themselves before anyone and that he does not know “sher-o-shayari” (poetry) but believes in work.
Old connection with Congress
Brijendra started his political journey with BJP in 2019 but his connection with Congress is deep-rooted. His father was part of the Congress for around 42 years before he joined BJP in 2014 after differences with the then chief minister, Bhupinder Singh Hooda.
Birender Singh was once a close friend of former PM Rajiv Gandhi and the family still runs educational institutes named in the honour of Rajiv Gandhi at their hometown of Uchana in Haryana’s Jind district.
Major boost for Congress
Brijendra’s switch will boost Congress in Haryana’s Jind district and a part of Kaithal district – some portion of the Bangar belt – which is dominated by the Jat community. Most of the land in this belt is fertile and people still own sizable landholdings as compared to other areas of the state. Congress already has Randeep Singh Surjewala from this belt, a part of which is also under Kurukshetra Lok Sabha seat. Senior Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda already has a strong influence in Deswali belt.
(With agency inputs)
“The BJP-JJP alliance was also another major reason behind my unease in BJP,” he said while talking to mediapersons.
Brijendra said that on October 2, 2023, his family had conveyed its views against the BJP’s alliance with Haryana deputy chief minister Dushyant Chautala’s JJP in a rally. His father Birender had then served an ultimatum to BJP, virtually threatening to quit if the party continued its alliance with the JJP, which he accused of indulging in rampant corruption, in Haryana.
Sources said the high possibility of BJP tying up with the JJP for the Lok Sabha elections could have prompted Brijendra’s decision. There was speculation that he may be replaced as Hisar MP and would not be fielded again from the constituency by BJP as JJP was demanding the seat.
Highly-placed sources confirmed to TOI that Congress may field Brijendra from Hisar parliamentary seat from where he had won on a BJP ticket in the 2019 polls with a margin of around 3.14 lakh votes. His home assembly constituency Uchana also comes under Hisar parliamentary seat. He could also be fielded from the Sonipat seat as three assembly seats – Jind, Safidon and Julana of his home district Jind – fall in this constituency.
When asked if his father (Birender Singh) would also follow him, senior Congress leader Ajay Makan intervened, saying Birender would join Congress in a public meeting.
Both Brijendra and Birender have been vocal against JJP for a long time and demanded BJP disassociate itself from JJP. Dushyant had defeated Brijendra Singh’s mother Premlata Singh from Uchana assembly seat in the 2019 assembly polls.
Even though Brijendra resigned from BJP and as the Hisar MP, he would be entitled to all benefits/facilities of being a former MP for the duration of his tenure as a parliamentarian.
Bureaucrat-turned-politician
Brijendra Singh, 51, is a graduate from Delhi’s St Stephen’s College, has a master’s degree from JNU and another master’s degree from King’s College, London. He cleared UPSC and was selected into the 1988 batch of IAS after securing the 9th rank. He served as an IAS officer for around 21 years before joining politics in 2019.
Deputy CM Dushyant takes a jibe
Immediately after Brijendra switched parties, Dushyant took a jibe at his political opponent, saying, “Dar dar pe jakar dua badalte hain, log khud nahin badalte, khuda badalte hain.” (Instead of changing themselves, people keep changing their loyalties).” The Hisar MP’s father Birender Singh responded by saying that at least they had not prostrated themselves before anyone and that he does not know “sher-o-shayari” (poetry) but believes in work.
Old connection with Congress
Brijendra started his political journey with BJP in 2019 but his connection with Congress is deep-rooted. His father was part of the Congress for around 42 years before he joined BJP in 2014 after differences with the then chief minister, Bhupinder Singh Hooda.
Birender Singh was once a close friend of former PM Rajiv Gandhi and the family still runs educational institutes named in the honour of Rajiv Gandhi at their hometown of Uchana in Haryana’s Jind district.
Major boost for Congress
Brijendra’s switch will boost Congress in Haryana’s Jind district and a part of Kaithal district – some portion of the Bangar belt – which is dominated by the Jat community. Most of the land in this belt is fertile and people still own sizable landholdings as compared to other areas of the state. Congress already has Randeep Singh Surjewala from this belt, a part of which is also under Kurukshetra Lok Sabha seat. Senior Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda already has a strong influence in Deswali belt.
(With agency inputs)
Source Agencies
