OP Dhankar: Caste matters in Haryana, but BJP champions inclusive governance
Asserting that the BJP does not adhere to caste-based politics, BJP national secretary OP Dhankar said the party's guiding principles remain "sab ka saath, sab ka vikas, sab ka prayaas, sab ka vishwas" (everyone’s support, everyone’s development, everyone’s effort, and everyone’s trust). Dhankar shared these views during The Tribune’s digital show “DecodeHaryana” while addressing Opposition claims that BJP leverages caste for electoral gains.
Ticket allocation reflects caste dynamics
Even during the allocation of tickets, the parties keep various caste combinations and permutations in mind. Every political party wants to take all castes along so that these castes are represented in every aspect, including government formation. — OP Dhankar, BJP national secretary
Though emphasising BJP’s commitment to inclusivity, Dhankar admitted that caste factors do influence politics in Haryana. “Even during the allocation of tickets, parties consider various caste combinations. Every political party aims to involve all castes to ensure representation in government formation,” he explained.
Dhankar, a former Haryana BJP chief, attributed the BJP’s success in the recent Assembly elections to Congress’s “series of mistakes” and the effective mobilisation of BJP’s cadre. He noted that the saffron party’s focus on presenting its agenda to voters contributed to its third consecutive victory in Haryana.
As chairman of the BJP’s poll manifesto committee, Dhankar addressed concerns regarding "competitive politics" in pre-poll promises, stating that Haryana’s government had sufficient funds to meet all its commitments.
Refuting claims that former Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar still exercises influence in Haryana via loyal officers, Dhankar acknowledged that senior administrative appointments, like the Chief Secretary, occur with the concurrence of the party high command, which he stated was appropriate given BJP’s leadership at both state and central levels.
The former Haryana Agriculture Minister highlighted the state’s status as a “model” for crop procurement on MSP since 2014, claiming that Haryana has avoided the procurement issues faced by neighbouring Punjab. He added that the newly formed Nayab Singh Saini Government aims to fulfil public welfare initiatives in line with the recent electoral mandate.
