Gurugram: In what appeared to be a veiled dig at Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, Union minister and Bharatiya Janata Party leader Rao Inderjit Singh has said the officials who were in Manohar Lal Khattar’s CMO continue to rule the roost even after the latter shifted to the Centre. The remarks have reignited discussions about internal strife in the Haryana BJP, exposing fault lines in the party into its third consecutive term in power.
In a podcast with NJP Haryana, Singh, a six-time MP and four-time MLA, said, “Haryana mein Manohar Lal Khattar ka prabhav abhi bhi barkarar hai. Unke time mein CMO ke andar babu log hain, bade-bade afsar hain, abhi tak unki chalti hai. (Manohar Lal Khattar’s influence is still intact in Haryana. The babus and high-ranking officials from his time in the chief minister’s office still rule the roost).”
He said, however, that Saini (55), being a “young man”, would eventually assert his authority. “Hum ummeed karte hain ki jawan aadmi hai, yeh dheere dheere apne pairon par khade hokar apne mann se, dimaag se soch kar Haryana ke hit ke faisle lenge. (He is a young man and I hope he eventually becomes his own man and starts taking decisions in Haryana’s interest by applying his own mind).”
Rao’s remarks come on the heels of his public face-off with Saini at a rally in Rewari’s Rao Tularam Stadium on 15 June, where the Union minister asserted that the Ahirwal region—comprising Rewari, Mahendragarh and parts of Gurugram—played a pivotal role in bringing the BJP to power in the state.
“We made your government, and we have a rightful claim. Ensure our work is done,” Rao declared, targeting both Saini and Khattar, whom he accused of neglecting the region during his tenure. Saini, in response, emphasised inclusivity, saying, “We are not a government of any one caste but of 2.75 crore people.”
Also Read: In Haryana’s Ateli, BJP’s Arti Rao banks on her father’s legacy. But ‘outsider’ tag poses challenge
Longstanding feud with Khattar
Rao’s latest critique of Khattar highlights their decade-long rivalry that has occasionally spilled into public.
In the podcast, Rao took a swipe at Khattar’s leadership, claiming even though he made efforts to distribute development projects across Haryana he failed to become a “jan neta” (mass leader). “Jaton ki vote unhe nahi mili (He did not get Jat votes),” Rao remarked, pointing to Khattar’s supposed inability to secure the support of a significant voting bloc in the state.
Political analyst Jyoti Mishra, a researcher at the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS) in Delhi, said Rao’s comments reflect a deeper struggle for regional and caste-based influence within the BJP.
“Rao Inderjit Singh has long positioned himself as the voice of South Haryana, particularly the Ahirwal belt, which delivered 10 out of 11 Assembly seats to the BJP in 2024. His public assertions are a calculated move to remind the party leadership of his indispensability, especially in a region that has been a cornerstone of the BJP’s electoral success,” Mishra said.
‘Bhavi mukhyamantri’
Rao, a descendant of Rao Tula Ram, the 19th-century king of the Ahirwal region, has consistently leveraged his Ahir community identity and regional clout to project himself as a potential chief ministerial candidate. His supporters have repeatedly called him the “bhavi mukhyamantri” (future chief minister), a sentiment he echoed in the podcast by claiming to be “Haryana mein sabse zyada janadhar wala vyakti (the person with the largest voter base in Haryana).”
Rao’s remarks on the podcast also touched on his frustration with the BJP’s internal dynamics. He revealed that his direct entry into the BJP in 2014, facilitated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and senior leader Amit Shah, was not well received by some party leaders in Haryana. “Log mujhse katrate hain ki kahin Inderjit ko party badi zimmedari na saunp de.”
His grievances extend to the allocation of portfolios at the Centre. Rao expressed disappointment at being retained as a Union minister of state rather than being elevated to a Cabinet position. “Jo mere se junior the, woh mere barabar minister bana diye; jo barabar ke the, woh senior minister bana diye (Those junior to me have been elevated to my level as junior ministers, and those at my level have been made senior ministers,” he said, though adding that his concerns are heard respectfully when raised with the party leadership.
Jyoti Mishra explains that Rao’s outspokenness is unusual for the BJP, a party known for its disciplined hierarchy.
“The BJP’s tolerance to Rao’s public criticisms suggests a strategic calculation. His influence in Ahirwal, which delivered a near-sweep for the party in 2024, makes him a critical asset, especially with anti-incumbency and a resurgent Congress looming large,” she said.
Rao’s comments in the podcast also highlighted his relentless advocacy for south Haryana. He claimed credit for securing major projects like the Central University, Sainik School and AIIMS for the region, often against significant resistance.
“Agar main sangharsh nahi karta toh na Central University milti, na Sainik School milta, aur na hi AIIMS milta (Had I not fought for it, the area would not have got the Central University or Sainik School or the AIIMS,” he said, recounting how he persuaded then Union minister Arjun Singh to allocate the Central University to Mahendragarh instead of Rohtak.
He also pointed to unresolved issues, such as the waterlogged underpass leading to the Rewari AIIMS, which he said remains flooded for three months annually, causing distress to patients. Rao warned that South Haryana’s water crisis could lead to outmigration if not addressed urgently. “Without water, people will leave,” he cautioned, urging Saini to prioritize the region’s needs.
Also Read: ‘Tried to divide us for 10 yrs.’ Why Rao Inderjit is taking on fellow Union minister Khattar
Family legacy & political ambitions
Rao’s political manoeuvres are also tied to his family’s legacy. His daughter, Arti Rao, was made a minister in Saini’s Cabinet after winning the Ateli Assembly seat in 2024, a move Rao attributed to the party’s initiative rather than his own lobbying.
“Maine beti ke liye do baar ticket manga, par nahi mila. Is baar party ne khud ticket diya aur khud hi minister bana diya (Twice, I asked for a ticket for my daughter, but did not get. This time around, the party gave a ticket itself and also made her a minister,” he said.
Rao’s strained relationships with past chief ministers, including Congress’ Bhupinder Singh Hooda, were also discussed during the podcast. He recounted an incident where Hooda dismissed his concerns during a meeting, prompting Rao to sever ties.
“Maine usse roka aur kaha, ‘Bhuppi, mere bhi kaam hain’. Usne afsar ko kaha ki inke baare mein baad mein charcha karte hain (I told Hooda, ‘Bhuppi, I have some work’. He told his officers that my concerns should be taken up later,” Rao recalled, describing the encounter as a turning point that led him to join the BJP.
(Edited by Ajeet Tiwari)
Also Read: BJP’s Ahirwal faultline in Haryana wide open with Rao Inderjit-CM Saini faceoff in Rewari
