Tosham showdown: Jats divided over Bansi Lal’s legacy, farmers’ agitation

As Jats in Tosham weigh options to choose between the grandchildren of four-time Haryana CM Bansi Lal — Congress’ Anirudh and BJP’s Shruti — they are hostile to Kiran Choudhry and her daughter joining the BJP.

Largely fuelled by the farmers’ agitation over three farm laws, anger against the BJP is palpable among Jats. Even staunch supporters of Bansi Lal and his younger son Surender Singh are deliberating upon supporting Shruti.

The constituency has over 76,000 Jat votes, which constitute around 35 per cent of the electorate.

Jui village, which is Jat-dominated and has 8,000–10,000 voters, has always stood by Bansi Lal, who represented Tosham six times, and Surender Singh, who won from the constituency twice. After Surender’s death in 2005, the village rallied behind his wife Kiran Choudhry, who won four elections from Tosham.

“We have always stood by the Bansi Lal clan. Had Kiran or her daughter Shruti sought votes on the Congress ticket, we would have voted for them. The farmers’ protests, Agniveer, and unemployment are big issues here,” said Pradeep Kumar, a resident of Jui. Another resident, Surinder Lamba, said, “The BJP is losing this time. Their narrative about transparent recruitment is false. My daughter became a clerk only after the court’s intervention.”

As Anirudh, son of Bansi Lal’s elder son Ranbir Mahendra, campaigned, Jui villagers welcomed him with a shower of flower petals.

Referring to his aunt and cousin, Anirudh said, “They chose the BJP, which brought down Chaudhary Bansi Lal’s government in 1999. Workers and their families, who have long been associated with the clan, are fuming about it.”

He said, “People in Tosham have patiently waited for the last 10 years. They were told that as Kiran and Shruti were out of power, no one was listening to them. Now that the time has come for the Congress to gain power, they have joined the BJP. Chaudhary Bansi Lal merged the Haryana Vikas Party with Congress in 2004. But they (Kiran and Shruti) have chosen the BJP.”

He is raising concerns about unemployment while promising to address issues of irrigation and potable water. As residents of Bhera, another Jat-dominated village, waited for Shruti, a song referring to her as the true inheritor of Bansi Lal’s legacy played in the background.

When Shruti arrived, she was showered with petals. Even women came to see her with their faces covered. Village elders rushed to offer her a turban.

“People from all castes reside in our village. Jats are more in number, but it seems we are divided between Anirudh and Shruti,” said Naveen Mehla, a Bhera resident. However, another villager, Praveen Sangwan, said, “Everyone knows the Congress is forming the government. Why shouldn’t we vote for Anirudh? We can’t forget the contributions of Surender Singh and we can’t vote for the BJP. Anirudh has come to our village three times, and there was a large crowd at his meetings too. A Shruti supporter retorted, “Jats are always vocal. There are other communities such as Brahmins which will support the BJP.”

Agniveer, jobs big issues

We have always stood by the Bansi Lal clan. Had Kiran or her daughter Shruti sought votes on the Congress ticket, we would have voted for them. The farmers’ protests, Agniveer, and unemployment are

big issues here. — Pradeep Kumar, resident of Jui village