New Delhi: Riding high on the decisive victory in the Delhi Assembly polls after decades, the BJP has turned its attention to internal dissent in some of its state units, issuing show-cause notices to three senior leaders for publicly criticising the party leadership in their respective states.
The timing of the notices, along with the direct involvement of the BJP’s central leadership, has reinforced the party’s emphasis on discipline and going against its rules.
Following its Assembly poll wins in Haryana, Maharashtra, and Delhi, the BJP’s latest move is also seen as a warning to leaders who have repeatedly challenged regional party figures appointed to key positions by the central leadership.
This action could not be linked to the poll outcomes per se, Indian Express reported citing a party leader.
The leaders who received show-cause notices are not critical enough to impact the party’s prospects in any state. “Sometimes, it is necessary to send a message that careless remarks must stop. This could not have been addressed while the entire party leadership was focused on the Delhi polls. Once the elections were over, the notices were issued,” the report quoted the BJP leader as saying.
He also noted that elections in the states these leaders belong to are still a long way off. “The NDA allies remain firmly aligned with the government at the national level. There is no challenge. Success in Assembly polls only strengthens the party’s public image and weakens the Opposition.”
BJP cracks whip on dissident leaders
On Monday, the BJP’s central disciplinary committee issued a second notice to Bijapur City MLA Basangouda Patil Yatnal for his continued criticism of state BJP chief B Y Vijayendra, the son of former CM and senior leader B S Yediyurappa. Since Vijayendra’s appointment as Karnataka BJP chief in November 2023, Yatnal—who had already received a show-cause notice in December—has been demanding his removal.
Another leader served with a show-cause notice on Monday was Haryana minister and seven-time MLA Anil Vij for his critical remarks against state BJP chief Mohan Lal Badoli and Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini. The notice was issued by Badoli himself.
In Rajasthan, senior minister Kirodi Lal Meena also received a show-cause notice from state BJP chief Madan Rathore after alleging that the Bhajan Lal Sharma-led state government had tapped his phones.
Vij had previously staked a claim to the chief minister’s post ahead of the Haryana Assembly elections in October 2024 and recently stirred controversy by suggesting “internal sabotage” against him. Meanwhile, Meena in Rajasthan has long been a vocal figure and even resigned from the cabinet, though his resignation was not accepted.
