Haryana CM Sаini Attends Bhajanlal Death Anniversary Amid Bisnoi Family’s Uneasy Truce With BJP
Kuldeep Bishnoi says he was ready to take a “big decision” over BJP MP’s slur against his late father before accepting her apology — as Adampur gathering doubles as a show of political strength
By NewsArc Bureau | Adampur, Haryana | June 3, 2026
Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Wednesday attended the 15th death anniversary of former Chief Minister Chaudhary Bhajanlal at the family’s memorial site in Adampur, in a carefully watched visit that carried as much political weight as it did sentiment. Saini circumambulated the samadhi sthal, spent approximately 20 minutes with the Bisnoi family, and departed without speaking to the media — a studied silence that itself spoke volumes about the delicate state of relations between the BJP and one of Haryana’s most influential political dynasties.
The event drew supporters not only from across Haryana but also from neighbouring Rajasthan, reinforcing the Bisnoi family’s cross-state reach. Security arrangements were tight, with District Collector Mahendra Pal invoking Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) 2023 to designate the venue and surrounding areas as a special control zone. Drone flights and the carrying of weapons in the area were prohibited for the duration of the event.
Kuldeep’s Carefully Calibrated Forgiveness
The most politically significant moment of the day came not at the samadhi but on social media, where Kuldeep Bisnoi released a video elaborating on why he had chosen to forgive BJP Rajya Sabha MP Rekha Sharma — and making clear that the forgiveness had not come easily or quickly.
Kuldeep stated that he had received Rekha Sharma’s apology video two days before making it public, but had deliberately held back from responding immediately. He convened a meeting with his supporters, gauged their views, and only then recorded and released his own video — timed to go live simultaneously with Sharma’s apology. “Some people are saying I forgave Rekha Sharma immediately,” he said. “That is not the case. One who forgives is always greater.”
The episode traced back to April 24, when Rekha Sharma, speaking in Panchkula, had alleged that the late Bhajanlal and his son Chandramohan had won elections through “badmashi” — a loaded Hindi word connoting thuggery and foul play. The remark provoked an immediate and furious response from Kuldeep, who demanded a public apology. Chandramohan went further, sending Sharma a legal notice and approaching the courts. As the controversy escalated, Sharma apologised on May 15, claiming her words had been misrepresented. Kuldeep subsequently accepted the apology, though Wednesday’s video made plain that the wound had not healed overnight.
Sources close to the Bisnoi family said Kuldeep had been weighing a significant political move in response to the controversy — widely interpreted as a potential break with, or at minimum a public confrontation with, the BJP. The fact that Saini had visited Kuldeep at his Delhi residence as recently as June 1 — just two days before the anniversary — was seen as part of the BJP’s efforts to keep the relationship intact.
A Political Statement Dressed as a Memorial
Political observers in Haryana noted that this year’s death anniversary was freighted with unusual significance. In the weeks leading up to the event, Kuldeep had held a meeting with party workers in Delhi, urging them to move forward with self-respect and to remain united — language that carried implicit undertones of restiveness within BJP ranks.
The Bisnoi family’s decision to mobilise supporters from multiple states for the Adampur gathering was widely read as a deliberate demonstration of political muscle — a signal both to the BJP leadership and to the broader electorate that the family commands a formidable and loyal base.
Supporters at the venue echoed this sentiment. Balwant, a long-time Bhajanlal loyalist, said the family’s followers owed their allegiance to the Bisnois, not to any party. “This family is where we go,” he said. “We have no grievance with anyone and no binding to any party. Wherever this family goes, we will stand with them.” Lovely Mehta, who travelled from Fatehabad, was more conciliatory, saying CM Saini’s presence at the event was appreciated, while reaffirming loyalty to Kuldeep personally.
Bhajanlal’s Legacy
Chaudhary Bhajanlal served as Chief Minister of Haryana and later as Chief Minister of Rajasthan, and was one of the most consequential political figures in north Indian politics for several decades. He was known for his ability to consolidate support across caste lines — described by supporters as a leader of all 36 communities — and for his mastery of political manoeuvre at both state and national levels. He passed away on June 3, 2011.
His son Kuldeep represents the continuation of that legacy in contemporary Haryana politics. Having spent years in the Congress before joining the BJP, Kuldeep occupies a complicated position — a politician whose family brand transcends party affiliation, making him simultaneously valuable and unpredictable as an ally.
Wednesday’s events suggested that while the immediate crisis has passed, the underlying tensions between the Bisnoi family’s independent political identity and the BJP’s organisational discipline remain unresolved. How that tension plays out ahead of the next Haryana assembly cycle will be closely watched.
