Manohar Lal Khattar might go for rejig to show RSS, BJP backing

Manohar Lal Khattar-led Haryana government could go in for a Cabinet reshuffle to show that the chief minister has the full backing of both the RSS and the BJP, in the wake of the violent Jat quota agitation. Many lives were lost and the state incurred a huge loss due to the violent agitation. While the Opposition has been demanding Mr Khattar’s dismissal and imposition of President’s Rule over its “failure” to tackle the violence, voices of dissent have started growing in the BJP state unit against the CM, considered close to the RSS as well as PM Narendra Modi. A section within the BJP Haryana unit is of the view that the RSS pracharak has failed to rein in the Opposition as well as dissenters within his own political outfit.

Some also saw the agitation as a challenge to the non-Jat chief minister of the Jat-dominated state.

The state government is expected to bring a bill on the Jat reservation issue during the Assembly session beginning next week. Sources said Mr Khattar had met RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat last week to apprise him of the situation. He had also met with the BJP top brass, including party president Amit Shah, last week. The BJP and the RSS top brass, it is learnt, have rejected suggestions of change in leadership after questions were being raised on Mr Khattar’s leadership. Sources disclosed the state Cabinet reshuffle could see portfolios of some senior ministers being changed.