Two days before the BJP is set to finalize its candidates for the upcoming Haryana Assembly elections, the party is grappling with an abundance of contenders for the Badshahpur constituency. This high-stakes seat has attracted interest from former Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to ex-Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, Jawahar Yadav, party district president Kamal Yadav, and former minister Rao Narbir Singh.

Badshahpur, with its 4.5 lakh voters, has the largest electorate in Haryana and is one of nine seats within the prestigious Gurgaon Lok Sabha constituency. In the 2014 elections, the seat was won by Independent candidate Rakesh Daultabad, who passed away in May this year. Narbir previously represented the seat from 2014 to 2019.

The excitement surrounding the seat is heightened by the fact that, in the recent Lok Sabha elections, Badshahpur delivered the BJP its highest vote count from any Assembly segment—1.2 lakh votes. This significant margin contributes to the intense competition among the aspirants.

Jawahar Yadav, who has served as the chairman of the Haryana Housing Board, emphasizes his contributions to the regularization of unauthorized colonies and his extensive work in the constituency. However, some district BJP leaders express concerns over his candidacy, citing his Delhi residence and limited local engagement. “When Yadavs from Gurgaon are in contention, it’s unlikely a Yadav from Delhi will be chosen,” a senior leader noted.

Kamal Yadav, the local contender, points to his 15 years of service in Badshahpur and his familiarity with the party cadre as key strengths. He has been actively convening booth-level meetings to bolster his case.

The constituency’s demographics include approximately 1.25 lakh Ahirs (Yadavs), 60,000 Jats, 50,000 Scheduled Castes (SCs), 35,000 Brahmins, and 30,000 Punjabis, among others.

Rao Narbir Singh, another prominent candidate, faces challenges due to recent conflicts with party leaders and his connections with Congress MLA Rao Dhan Singh, who is under investigation by the Enforcement Directorate. Narbir’s daughter is married to Dhan Singh’s son, which has further complicated his standing. Despite this, Narbir remains confident, claiming that past issues were due to conspiracies and praising Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini and Khattar for their support.

A senior district leader has pointed out concerns over Narbir’s past discrepancies in affidavits, which could affect his chances. Additionally, Manish Yadav, the party’s 2019 candidate, has been actively campaigning for the ticket.

The BJP has shortlisted three to five candidates for most of the 90 seats and is weighing factors such as organizational commitment and local versus non-local status. The party has conducted surveys to gauge the popularity of its candidates and remains confident about securing a victory in Badshahpur. There is also speculation that Kumudini, the widow of the late Rakesh Daultabad, may run as an Independent candidate.