BJP leader Kiran Choudhry, who has filed her nomination for the Rajya Sabha bypoll from Haryana, in an exclusive interview iTV Network, has revealed some explosive details about the state’s political landscape.
Speaking about her journey from Congress to the BJP, Choudhry shared previously unknown insights into the “political machinations” involving prominent figures such as Bhupinder Singh Hooda and Om Prakash Chautala.
Choudhry, a former Congress leader, described her transition to the BJP as a strategic move aligned with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision. Reflecting on her departure from Congress, she mentioned that despite efforts by Kumari Selja and Randeep Surjewala to dissuade her from leaving, internal party issues and leadership interference made her decision inevitable.
She recounted the challenges she faced, including alleged sabotage of her candidature by Congress leaders. According to Choudhry, in 2004 when Congress was preparing to nominate candidates for the Rajya Sabha, the votes of independent legislators were invalidated through “manipulative tactics” by then Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala.
Choudhry also detailed how a crucial page of signatures was reportedly sent to INLD Supremo Chautala, leading to the disqualification of Congress votes.
She revealed how the Congress high command, despite wanting to help, was unable to do so, forcing her to leave Congress after three decades and join BJP, aligning with PM Modi’s vision for the welfare of the people of Bhiwani and Charkhi Dadri.
For the first time, she also disclosed that before leaving Congress, she met Kumari Selja and Randeep Surjewala, who tried to persuade her not to leave the party.
However, according to Choudhry, opposition leader and former Haryana CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda, along with his close state president and Congress in-charge of Haryana, Deepak Babaria, showed the Congress high command a misleading survey report and used the excuse of her daughter Shruti Choudhary’s loss in the last two elections to deny her a ticket. Whether it was Dipender’s programmes in her area or her name not appearing in the list of 40-star campaigners, said she felt completely uncomfortable in Congress. She said that the issue was not with Congress itself but with the leaders who were running the party. In 2004, Choudhary said, she was prevented from voting by the then-CM Om Prakash Chautala “at the behest of Congress leaders”. She also narrated how independent MLAs were invited to a Congress legislative meeting, where their signatures were taken and a press conference was held after Kiran was declared the Rajya Sabha candidate by Congress in 2004. However, a Congress leader sent that page to INLD Supremo Chautala, who had their votes invalidated through the Speaker. She further said that those claiming Bansi Lal’s legacy— Bansi Lal’s eldest son Ranbir Mahendra, and Anirudh Choudhary—can Bansi Lal’s political opponent Bhajan Lal performing the Kanyadaan of daughter while Bansi Lal was alive.
She accused Ranbir Mahendra’s family of expressing happiness after Surendra Singh’s death. In 2005, she said, Chaudhary Bansi Lal himself placed the turban of his legacy on his daughter Shruti Choudhary’s head. At that time, this example of women’s empowerment by Bansi Lal was even praised by international media.
Kiran further stated that Bansi Lal informed Shruti Choudhary in the morning that she would inherit his political legacy, and the then-chief ministers of Rajasthan and Delhi were witnesses. Ranbir Mahendra was the son who contested elections against his own brother after Bansi Lal formed a separate party—neither did Ranbir maintained a relationship with his father nor with his brother. Now, in 2024, even if BJP gives Shruti Choudhary a ticket in Tosham, it won’t matter if Anirudh Choudhary or anyone else contests against her.
Kiran Choudhary does not claim to be a CM candidate, but she believes that joining BJP will definitely benefit the party.
The people who honour Bansi Lal, remembered for developing Haryana’s roads, water, and electricity networks, will now fully support BJP.
Kiran Choudhary also asserts that any discontent with BJP in Haryana has been resolved in the Lok Sabha elections. Therefore, in the assembly elections, issues like farmers’ interests, welfare of the poor, and providing jobs without bribes and expenses will bring BJP back to power.
