Haryana: Caste Calculus Takes Centre Stage as BJP Gears Up for Rajya Sabha Elections

As two Rajya Sabha seats from Haryana fall vacant on April 9, political activity has intensified, with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) beginning its internal deliberations well ahead of the likely March elections. The focus this time is clearly on caste and community arithmetic, even as the broader numbers suggest a relatively straightforward outcome.

Going by the current strength in the 90-member Assembly, both the BJP and the Opposition Indian National Congress are expected to secure one seat each, with 31 MLAs required to win a Rajya Sabha election. The BJP has 48 legislators of its own and enjoys the support of three Independents, while the Congress has 37 MLAs. The INLD has two members.  

However, political observers are not ruling out the possibility of the BJP attempting to spring a surprise. The party has a track record of pulling off unexpected moves in Rajya Sabha elections from Haryana, most notably when it backed “Independent” candidates like media barons Subhash Chandra and Kartikeya Sharma in earlier contests. To repeat such a feat, the BJP would need the backing of six to seven Congress MLAs — a difficult but not entirely implausible task in Haryana’s fluid political landscape.  

The vacancies are arising due to the retirement of Kiran Choudhry and Ram Chander Jangra. Choudhry represents the influential Jat community, while Jangra is an OBC leader. At present, all five Rajya Sabha seats from Haryana are held by BJP-backed members, giving the party room to recalibrate its social representation.

Within the BJP, multiple caste equations are being weighed. Jat leaders such as former state BJP chief OP Dhankar and ex-minister JP Dalal are seen as contenders. The Dalit community, which currently has no Rajya Sabha representation from Haryana, is also staking its claim, with names like former MP Sunita Duggal and ex-minister Banwari Lal doing the rounds. Brahmin and Punjabi leaders, along with non-Jat faces like Kuldeep Bishnoi, are also part of the internal discussions.

Failure to come to a consensus on a senior leader, the party can again play a surprise card, as it has already done in December 2024, nominating Rekha Sharma for the Rajya Sabha polls. The next few months are likely to present a keenly watched situation, given that there are factors such as caste balance, loyalty, and strategic considerations involved.