Bishnoi family eyes political comeback via Rajya Sabha nomination

Following the Bishnoi family’s first electoral defeat in their Adampur stronghold, BJP leader Kuldeep Bishnoi is reportedly lobbying for a Rajya Sabha nomination. This comes as the Rajya Sabha seat currently held by Krishan Lal Panwar is set to become vacant after Panwar’s election to the Haryana Assembly from the Israna (reserved) seat in Panipat district.

Bishnoi’s son, Bhavya Bishnoi, suffered a narrow defeat in Adampur, losing to Congress candidate Chander Prakash by just 1,268 votes. The loss marked the end of a long-standing Bishnoi family legacy, which had won the Adampur seat consecutively since 1968, securing 16 election victories in a row.

Kuldeep Bishnoi, who switched to the BJP from the Congress in 2022, after winning a byelection, is now seeking a Rajya Sabha nomination as a form of political compensation for his family’s loss. A close aide revealed that Bishnoi has been actively lobbying senior BJP leaders and recently met Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankar, alongside his son Bhavya and other family members. Bishnoi also posted pictures of the meeting on his social media account, X, along with an old photo of his father, former Haryana Chief Minister Bhajan Lal, engaged in discussion with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, underscoring the family’s historical ties to the BJP leadership.

While Bishnoi’s name is reportedly in contention, sources within the BJP have indicated that no decision has been made yet, and other potential candidates, including former Karnal MP Sanjay Bhatia, are also being considered for the nomination.

The Rajya Sabha seat, which Kuldeep Bishnoi is eyeing, will be contested in a mid-term election following Panwar’s resignation. Panwar, who won the Israna seat in the recent assembly elections, will leave his Rajya Sabha position mid-term, with his term initially set to end in 2028.