Dynastic politics reigns in Ahirwal

Ravinder Saini

Tribune News Service

Rewari, September 26

It will not be an exaggeration to say that dynastic politics has been a feature of Ahirwal’s landscape. Four families are playing or have played a major role in the politics of Ahirwal, comprising Rewari, Mahendragarh and Gurugram districts.

The third generation of three of these families has plunged into politics to carry forward the political legacy. Their two generations have served as MLA at least thrice. One of the families enjoyed post of chief minister and Cabinet rank in the Union government.

The families are of Union minister Rao Inderjit Singh, PWD Minister Rao Narbir Singh, former minister and state Congress election campaign committee chairman Capt Ajay Yadav and former minister Rao Narendra Singh.

Inderjit’s family contested the maximum Assembly and Lok Sabha elections. His father Rao Birender Singh contested from Rewari in the Assembly elections held in 1952. At that time, Haryana was a part of Punjab. Birendra Singh lost his first election to Rao Abhay Singh, Capt Yadav’s father.

“Birender Singh became MLC in 1954 and served as minister in Punjab Government. He became Speaker of the Vidhan Sabha in 1967, months after Haryana was carved out. He served as Chief Minister for nine months in 1967 after Pt Bhagwat Dayal Sharma. He was elected MLA thrice and MP four times. He was minister in the state and Central governments,” said Naresh Chauhan, political analyst.

He said Birender Singh was “adopted” by Ahir personality Rao Balbir Singh, whose daughter Sumitra Devi, popularly known as Baiji, was elected MLA unopposed from Rewari in 1957. Her winning spree continued in 1962, 1967 and 1968.

Birender Singh’s sons Inderjit and Rao Yaduvendra Singh were carrying forward his legacy. Inderjit was elected MLA four times from Jatusana and MP five times. Yaduvendra became MLA twice, first from Jatusana and then from Kosli after delimitation in 2009. Inderjit served as minister in the state and Central governments. He is minister in Narendra Modi government and his daughter Aarti Rao is active in politics. His brother Rao Ajit Singh unsuccessfully contested Assembly poll thrice.

“Narbir’s grandfather Rao Mohar Singh was MLC in Punjab before Partition. His father Rao Mahabir was elected MLA thrice and served as minister. His uncle Vijay Vir was elected MLA from Sohna in 1982. Narbir was elected MLA thrice and became minister every time. He is MLA from Badshahpur in Gurugram district,” said Chauhan.

Narbir defeated Inderjit from Jatusana in his debut election in 1987. Inderjit defeated Narbir from Gurgaon in the Lok Sabha election in 2009.

Capt Yadav’s father Rao Abhay Singh was three-time MLA. Ajay was elected six times consecutively from Rewari. He entered poll politics through a byelection necessitated following the resignation of Rewari MLA Raghu Yadav in 1989. Capt Ajay served as minister in Bhajan Lal and Bhupinder Singh Hooda governments. He faced defeat for the first time in the 2014 Assembly poll.

Rao Narendra’s father Rao Bansi Singh won one Assembly election from Ateli in Mahendragarh district. Narendra was elected twice, once from Ateli and then from Narnaul. He was Minister for Health in Hooda government from 2009 to 2014. Narendra lost the Assembly election in 2014.