BJP Faces Backlash in Haryana: Farmer Anger Haunts Election Campaign

As Haryana gears up for its upcoming elections on October 5, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) finds itself in a challenging position. The party's candidates are facing significant backlash from voters, particularly farmers, across the state. This situation has prompted senior party leader and Union Minister of State Rao Inderjit Singh to publicly criticize the previous BJP-led state government's handling of the farmer crisis. 

Mishandling of the Farmer Crisis

In a candid interview with The Tribune, Rao Inderjit Singh acknowledged that the farmers' anger is partially due to how the former Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar's government dealt with the agricultural crisis in February 2024. Singh pointed out a crucial misstep in the crisis resolution process: 

"The state government had many mass farmer leaders, including me. Rather than involving us in the tussle resolution, they kept calling people from the Centre who had no background with farmers and did not resonate with them," Singh stated.

This approach, according to Singh, failed to address the farmers' concerns effectively and has led to the current resentment visible during the election campaign. 

Widespread Protests Against BJP Candidates 

The impact of this mishandling is now evident as BJP candidates face protests and heckling during their campaign trails. Several incidents have been reported: 

1. Former Home Minister Anil Vij faced angry farmers in Ambala who refused to listen to him. 

2. In Ateli, former BJP MLA Sita Ram was gheraoed by villagers while campaigning for Aarti Rao, daughter of Rao Inderjit Singh. 

3. In Jhajjar's Ladayan village, BJP candidate Kaptan Birdhana was reportedly chased away by an agitated mob of women and children. 

4. Nalwa BJP candidate Randhir Panihar faced protests in Devan village, with farmers interrupting his speech with anti-BJP slogans. 

These incidents, many of which have gone viral on social media, underscore the depth of farmer resentment against the BJP in Haryana.

BJP's Efforts to Reconnect with Farmers

Recognizing the severity of the situation, BJP candidates are making concerted efforts to appease the angry voters:

1. Some candidates have publicly apologized, even with folded hands on camera. 

2. Assurances are being made regarding the withdrawal of cases registered against farmers during previous protests. 

3. Local leaders are being engaged more actively in the campaign process to rebuild trust.

However, as Rao Inderjit Singh points out, the opposition has seized this opportunity to further influence farmers against the BJP. "Haryana farmers are amongst the most content and happy ones, but the situation was handled in such a way that they too were left disgruntled," he remarked. 

Looking Ahead

As the election date approaches, the BJP faces an uphill battle in regaining the trust of Haryana's farming community. The party's handling of this crisis could significantly impact the election outcome and potentially reshape the political landscape of the state. 

The Haryana Story will continue to monitor this developing situation and provide updates as the election campaign progresses.