Haryana’s Power Struggle: A Battle Between Legacy And Loyalty. Will BJP Break the Grip of the Three Powerful Families? – Dzire News

Haryana’s Power Struggle: A Battle Between Legacy And Loyalty. Will BJP Break the Grip of the Three Powerful Families? – Dzire News

Dzire News New Delhi–Haryana’s political landscape has long been dominated by the influence of three powerful political dynasties: Devi Lal, Bansi Lal, and Bhajan Lal. For decades, these leaders and their families have shaped the state’s politics, engaging in intense battles for control. As elections approach, the BJP aims to break this stronghold and establish its dominance, while errors and internal disagreement complicate the picture.
The roots of Haryana’s political dynamics date back to the 1960s when the state was formed out of Punjab. Devi Lal, Bansi Lal, and Bhajan Lal appeared as key political figures, each representing distinct political ideologies and regions within Haryana. These leaders commanded immense support, building political empires that still echo today.
The 2024 Haryana elections will see a close fight between BJP, Congress, and INLD. BJP faces internal problems, while Congress struggles with seat-sharing talks with AAP. Independents and regional leaders, like Savitri Jindal, may also play important roles making the election result unclear.

Devi Lal, the ‘Lion of Haryana,’ known for championing farmers’ causes, created a solid rural vote base, becoming a two-time Chief Minister and Deputy Prime Minister of India. His family continues to play a important role in the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD). Bansi Lal, another towering figure, was a close supporter of Indira Gandhi and led Haryana through various phases, pushing for development. His family’s political base has been centered in Bhiwani. Meanwhile, Bhajan Lal was a political individualist who shifted commitment, including coordination with the BJP, and built a powerful family-centered political base in regions like Adampur. He was known for his grassroots appeal and was a famous Congress leader who also served as Haryana’s Chief Minister multiple times. His family, particularly his son Kuldeep Bishnoi, continues to manage influence in state politics.
However, despite the importance of these dynasties, internal competition have prevented any single family from fully dominating. For example, in recent by-elections like Adampur, Bhajan Lal’s family has managed to retain power, despite attempts by the family of Devi Lal and Bansi Lal to unseat them.
In recent years, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has continuously risen in Haryana, posing a serious challenge to the old political order. Under the leadership of Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, the BJP has focused on development, infrastructure, and governance reforms. However, while the party has gained ground, it still faces major barriers in the form of dynastic politics and its own internal tensions.
Vinesh Phogat, the famous wrestler, joined the Indian National Congress party on September 1, 2024. She was accompanied by fellow athletes like Vijender Singh. The move marks her shift into politics, aiming to contribute to public service and social issues through her new political platform.
Several notable figures have leaved the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The party’s strength in the Rajya Sabha has dropped to 86 due to the exit of key members. Meanwhile, some political leaders have also shifted away, expressing concerns with the party’s approach and policies.The BJP is now strategizing to regain seats in upcoming by-elections.
Several Congress leaders have switched to the BJP in recent years, with many receiving election tickets. Notable figures include Jyotiraditya Scindia, who joined the BJP and won from Guna, Madhya Pradesh. Others like Kalicharan Singh in Jharkhand and several Congress rebels in Himachal Pradesh also secured tickets and contested elections successfully in 2024.
Despite its stance against nepotism, BJP has granted election tickets to several candidates linked to political families. For instance, Union Minister Rajnath Singh’s son Pankaj Singh and Kaushal Kishore’s wife are contesting, and similar instances are seen in Haryana. The party has been criticized for engaging in family politics, which it previously opposed in rivals like Congress.
Several prominent family members have recently switched to the BJP:
Kiran Choudhry, the daughter-in-law of Bansi Lal and a senior Congress leader, along with her daughter Shruti Choudhry, joined the BJP. Shruti, a former MP, was previously a working president of the Haryana Congress unit. Ranjit Singh Chautala, son of Devi Lal and the brother of INLD leader Om Prakash Chautala, also joined the BJP.
As the 2024 elections approach, several leaders from Congress and other parties have defected to the BJP, hoping to secure tickets and ride the wave of the party’s growing influence. Errors from Congress have been particularly notable, with many high-profile leaders switching sides. The BJP has strategically fielded candidates from politically notable families, such as members of the Bansi Lal and Bhajan Lal families, to strengthen its appeal.
Despite its rising strength, the BJP has struggled with internal disagreements and allegations of favoring dynastic politics—illogically, the same issue it often criticizes Congress for. Several BJP leaders have left the party, blaming the leadership of ignored loyal workers in favor of political dynasts. Family members of famous leaders like Devi Lal and Bhajan Lal have been given tickets, raising concerns about the BJP’s commitment to social organisation. This has fueled discontent among party workers, many of whom feel sidelined.
For instance, in the 2024 assembly elections, the BJP has fielded relatives of influential leaders such as Bansi Lal’s family members, adding fuel to the claims of promoting “family politics”. These moves, while aimed at grabbing key voter bases, have also led to whisper of dissatisfaction within the party, as several long-time BJP members have expressed frustration over the growing importance of political families.

The BJP’s challenge in Haryana is to make a balance between using the influence of established political families and maintaining its image as a party that promotes development and good governance over nepotism. The addition of betrayers and political dynasts is a double-edged sword: it may help the party secure crucial votes in specific constituencies, but it also risks disappointing its core base, which demands transparency and merit-based politics.
The upcoming elections will serve as a litmus test for the BJP’s ability to navigate these complexities. The battle for Haryana is not just a fight for power between the BJP and Congress, but a deeper struggle over the future of political dynasties, errors, and internal party dynamics.
As Haryana prepares for the upcoming elections, the political legacy of the three Lals—Devi Lal, Bansi Lal, and Bhajan Lal—remains a central theme. While the BJP has gained momentum, internal tensions, defections, and blames of dynastic favoritism continue to cast a shadow over its prospects. The outcome of the elections will likely turn on how well the BJP can manage these issues while maximize on its growing base of support. The support are high, and the results will have lasting inferences for the political future of Haryana.

Sanjeev Sharma
Editor In Chief

Alisha Shahid
Asstt. Sub Editor