Kuldeep Bishnoi’s political future now hangs in the balance after the BJP’sBJP refused to grant him the Rajya Sabha seat he hoped for. His supporters had expected the party to reward him with the Haryana seat, given his background as the son of three-time Chief Minister Bhajan Lal and his long political tenure. However, the BJP’s choice to nominate Rekha Sharma instead was a significant setback for Bishnoi.
This is not the first time Bishnoi has faced significant challenges in his political career. After his son Bhavya’s defeat in the 2023 Haryana Assembly elections — a seat that the Bishnoi family had held for over five decades — the family’s grip on state politics seemed to loosen. Following internal conflicts, Bishnoi’s resignation from the All India Bishnoi Mahasabha earlier this month increased the perception of decline.
In the BJP, Bishnoi has sought to position himself as a senior leader capable of influencing the party’s direction. He met with top leaders, including Union Home Minister Amit Shah, to secure the Rajya Sabha seat. However, the party chose Rekha Sharma, leaving Bishnoi to absorb another political blow.
Despite these setbacks, Bishnoi has refused to be defeated, pointing out that he has never craved power or positions for personal gain. He emphasized his commitment to serving his community, mainly through his work with the Bishnoi Mahasabha. Bishnoi claims that his resignation from the Mahasabha was a personal decision that allowed him to focus on his political career. He remains adamant that he is not “for sale” despite his long history of shifting allegiances across parties.
Bishnoi’s political path has been anything but stable. His departure from Congress after allegations of cross-voting during a Rajya Sabha election and his subsequent joining of the BJP in 2022 marked a high-profile shift in Haryana politics. Though he had previously represented Congress as part of its high command and was involved in key decisions, his repeated exits from parties have diminished his credibility in the state.
With his hopes dashed in the Rajya Sabha elections, Bishnoi faces an uncertain future. These recent defeats overshadow his earlier success in securing two terms as a Member of Parliament and multiple terms as an MLA. He must rebuild his political standing to regain his relevance in Haryana, particularly after the family’s loss of Adampur and the Mahasabha controversy.
Bishnoi’s political narrative is one of resilience, but his ability to recover from these blows may depend on his next steps. The BJP’s decision to bypass him in favor of Rekha Sharma, combined with the defeat of his son, has set back his aspirations for now. Whether he can regain momentum and reassert himself as a key player in Haryana’s political scene will be determined by his next move and his ability to unite his base in an increasingly competitive environment.