Bishnoi become inaccessible, speculations soar

CHANDIGARH: Adding to the anxiety of the party high command, Senior Congress leader Kuldeep Bishnoi has become ‘elusive’. Speculations were already rife since the former Hisar MP missed the first meeting of the election coordination committee on Tuesday. Now, his non-availability in Hisar and Delhi has only fuel to the fire.

Till last week, political circles here were abuzz with rumours that Bishnoi, who was pressing for a parliamentary ticket for his son Bhavya Bishnoi from Hisar, was in touch with couple of senior BJP leaders. Though, Bishnoi himself had denied the same through the tweet on his official twitter handle, but his absence during the crucial poll meeting and later development have only added to the gossip.

A section of his supporter maintained that he was in New Delhi on Friday. However, another group of supporters claimed that he had left for Chennai to watch cricket match wherein his son Chaitanya Bishnoi, an all-rounder with Chennai Super Kings (CSK) team, is going to play.

The efforts to reach out to Bishnoi and his wife Renuka Bishnoi , who is Hansi MLA, failed on Friday. The text messages sent to Bishnoi by TOI also remained unanswered.

HPCC president Ashok Tanwar too was unavailable to comment on the issue. Speaking to TOI, Congress spokesman Ran Singh Maan denied that Bishnoi was about to changing his political colours.

“He is a senior leader of the party as well as of the area. During elections, rival political parties give air to such rumours. Since he enjoys a respectable position in the party, there is absolutely no reason for him to leave the organization. He must be busy with his own work,’’ said Maan.

Another senior Congress leader went to the extent of suggesting that with INLD MLA Ranbir Gangwa shifting to BJP, Abhay Chautala is faced with losing his status of leader of opposition. In such a case, the party could pick Bishnoi as Congress legislature party leader even though the state assembly elections are due in October.