Haryana BJP leader Kuldeep Bishnoi has demanded a formal apology from Rajya Sabha MP Rekha Sharma for comments regarding his late father [1].

The dispute threatens the internal stability of the Haryana BJP, as the party attempts to maintain the support base of the late former Chief Minister Bhajan Lal while managing public defiance from his son [1, 2].

The conflict escalated during the observation of Bhajan Lal’s death anniversary on June 4, 2024 [1]. Bishnoi, the son of the late leader, alleged that Sharma's remarks at a campaign event were disrespectful to his father's legacy [2, 3].

"I have given an ultimatum to the party to get Ms Sharma to apologise for her remarks on my father," Bishnoi said [2].

The party leadership responded by issuing a show-cause notice to Bishnoi, but the leader rejected and defied the notice [4]. This defiance has coincided with a rise in defamation cases stemming from the row [4].

Rekha Sharma addressed the controversy by stating her words were misinterpreted. "My comments were taken out of context; I regret any hurt caused," Sharma said [4].

Despite the tension, the Haryana BJP state leadership is attempting to bridge the gap. Mohan Lal Badoli, the state chief, indicated the party is working to resolve the rift [3].

"We will look into the matter and ensure harmony within the party," Badoli said [3].

Bishnoi used the June 4 anniversary events in Gurugram to assert his influence and signal his dissatisfaction with how the party has handled the matter [1, 2]. The leadership's efforts to placate the Bishnoi family come as the party seeks to avoid a wider fracture among supporters of the late former chief minister [1].

“"I have given an ultimatum to the party to get Ms Sharma to apologise for her remarks on my father."”

This confrontation highlights a volatility within the Haryana BJP's regional power structure. By defying a formal party notice and issuing an ultimatum, Kuldeep Bishnoi is leveraging his family's historical political legacy to challenge the current party hierarchy. The leadership's urgency to placate the family suggests that the Bishnoi support base remains a critical electoral asset that the party cannot afford to alienate through internal discipline.