‘rebel’ hAryAnA bJp mp mAy field cAndidAtes in 2019 polls

BJP’s Lok Sabha member from Kurukshetra, Raj Kumar Saini has declared that the Loktantra Suraksha Manch (LSM) which he floated some months ago, will contest all the 10 parliamentary and 90 Assembly seats in Haryana in 2019. Many in the state BJP are of the view that Saini should be suspended for anti-party activities as they fear that he would affect the Dalit and Other Backward Class votes. But the central leadership seems to be in favour of a “wait and watch” policy for some time. They are studying his areas of influence. “It might be a blessing in disguise. He may help us in dividing the Dalit votes, in case they shift to the Congress,” says a senior BJP leader in New Delhi. Saini told The Sunday Guardian that discrimination against a large section of society by previous governments forced him to set up LSM. Apparently referring to the Jats, Saini said that a particular community, which comprises 10% of the population, holds around 50% state government jobs, while 90% have a small share. He blames former Congress Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda of misguiding society over reservation for a community, which was set aside by the court. “I wish to end nepotism and give reservation to every category in society,” he said commenting that the name of his party would be announced as soon as it was registered. “The present BJP-ruled government has failed to resolve the issue. Instead of punishing arsonists, it rewarded them with jobs and relief,” Saini alleged. He was referring to the Jat agitation of 2016. Asked about the threat to his BJP membership, Saini said, “I am still in the BJP. The party can fire me whenever it likes.”