BJP strikes gold with Satish Poonia in Rajasthan

New Delhi: The impressive and spectacular victory in Haryana has not just left everyone stunned but also has revitalised and reinvigorated the BJP. This success has also helped the party identify a strong Jat leader in Satish Poonia. BJP is likely to gain from this momentum in other states as well. By securing a third consecutive term in Haryana, BJP has sent a clear message to the nation that its workers remain dedicated and persistent in their efforts to win until the very end. The party has expressed confidence in its future prospects. BJP has shown its confidence in Nayab Singh Saini by reappointing him as Chief Minister of Haryana.
The opposition that had reaffirmed its landslide victory, has now understood and accepted that they were not able to crack BJP’s strategy. No matter how many excuses Congress makes to justify its defeat, senior party leaders are beginning to quietly acknowledge that mistakes were made. The truth is gradually coming to light. While BJP capitalised on Congress’s overconfidence and worked diligently at the grassroots level, the party’s workers effectively communicated with the public, helping to counteract anti-incumbency sentiments.
Top leaders played a crucial role in this remarkable victory. Alongside the Sangh, prominent figures such as Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and BJP National President J.P. Nadda contributed to the party’s success. Among these leaders, Poonia also stands out. When Poonia was appointed as the election in-charge for Haryana during the Lok Sabha elections, his appointment raised eyebrows. Despite the challenging circumstances, Poonia managed to secure victories in half of the seats, helping BJP win five out of 10 seats. Later, when Poonia was named the general secretary in charge of Haryana for the Assembly elections, opponents were taken aback, questioning who had been entrusted with such a significant responsibility. However, Poonia approached the task strategically, visiting Assembly constituencies to identify necessary improvements and assess the opposition’s weaknesses.
Poonia also sent similar report to the high command and it was taken seriously. The report guided the party’s efforts. Following BJP’s ticket distribution, experts believed that Congress had an easier path ahead.
However, no one recognised that BJP had meticulously analysed each seat. They made cuts where necessary and introduced new faces when appropriate. This social engineering effectively ensnared Congress. Poonia emerged as the first leader to directly confront Congress on issues related to Dalit and backward class politics, challenging them to nominate a Scheduled Tribe candidate as the chief ministerial face if they had the courage to do so.
Poonia also targeted Congress by pointing out that the party appointed Mallikarjun Kharge, a Scheduled Caste leader, as national president merely for show, emphasising that he has no real influence within the party and that decisions are solely made by the Gandhi family.
Poonia’s focus on Dalit and backward class issues proved effective, as it prompted senior party leaders to spotlight Congress leader Kumari Selja. While infighting played a significant role in Congress’s defeat, the spotlight on Selja also contributed significantly to their struggles.
BJP central leadership’s decision to present Saini as the face of the state left Congress with no response. Following the victory in Haryana, Poonia is being discussed not only in Rajasthan but has also demonstrated his value at the national level. He has fulfilled the responsibilities entrusted to him by the high command, which is expected to keep him engaged at the centre. For this reason, he will not run in the by-elections in Rajasthan, despite earlier speculation about his candidacy.
Poonia is the only leader who served as the state president in Rajasthan for three and a half years while the party was out of power. During that time, infighting caused many leaders to hesitate to take a stand, but Poonia was willing to champion the party’s cause. He was unexpectedly removed from his position before the Assembly elections last year, which negatively impacted the party and led to the Jat community distancing itself from BJP.
It appeared that Poonia, who had a strong grasp of the organisation, was sidelined, but the party placed its trust in him again by assigning him the crucial role in Haryana, resulting in success. Over time, Poonia has established himself as a significant leader within the party, and it seems that the BJP has finally found the Jat leader it had been searching for in him.
Following the victory in Haryana, both, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah congratulated Poonia. He credits the win to the strategic acumen of Modi, Shah, Nadda, and the Sangh, stating that this success has significantly undermined Congress’s confidence.
Poonia remarks, “After Congress misled the public to secure 99 seats in the Lok Sabha, they began to lose their footing. They consistently attacked our leaders, and during the parliamentary sessions, Rahul Gandhi let his pride get the better of him, failing to uphold the dignity of the Prime Minister’s office. The public is observant and discerning.”
Poonia highlights, “Rahul Gandhi misled the public with false claims about threats to the Constitution and the abolition of reservations, which the people of Haryana responded to at the polls. Congress attempted to deceive our wrestlers, farmers, and youth, but the election results clearly demonstrate that lies cannot mislead the public.”
He recalls that when he took charge of Haryana during the Lok Sabha elections, Congress had created a hostile environment against the BJP government concerning reservations, schemes for farmers, wrestlers, and likewise, leading many to believe that BJP would not win a single seat.
Poonia says, “We laid the groundwork for the Assembly elections by winning five out of ten seats, effectively leading in 44 out of 90 seats in Haryana. Once I assumed my role as in-charge, I focused on expanding that lead and successfully secured a majority in the Assembly elections.”
The party placed its trust in him by giving him organisational responsibilities, and he is fully committed to that role. As a loyal party member, he diligently follows all directives he receives.
Regarding the upcoming by-elections in Rajasthan, Poonia notes, “The workers are energised by the victory in Haryana. The lies propagated by Congress have been exposed, and as a result, we are confident in winning all seven seats in Rajasthan.”