7 independent councillors re-enter BJP fold, stir power shift in Gurugram

State leaders say move boosts urban base; district unit caught off-guard as Rao Inderjit asserts central role in decision-making.

Published on: Sep 23, 2025, 09:56:14 IST

By Leena Dhankhar

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Seven councillors who had contested the Municipal Corporation elections as Independents have formally rejoined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), bypassing the district leadership and joining in Chandigarh under the aegis of senior state leaders.

Ceremony at CM’s residence surprises local unit; insiders say move engineered to weaken district power brokers ahead of civic polls. (REUTERS)

The returning councillors are Parminder Kataria and Pradeep Param from Ward 35, Mahavir Yadav, Dinesh Dahiya, and Avneesh Raghav from Ward 10, councillor representative Prashant Bhardwaj, and Gagandeep Kirod. Of these, Kataria, Yadav, Dahiya, Raghav, and Kirod had been expelled from the party for six years over anti-party activities. Their expulsion has now been revoked, officials confirmed. Sources said five of the councillors are aligned with Rao Inderjit’s camp, with their re-entry orchestrated to sideline the Gurugram district leadership.

District president Sarvpriy Tyagi expressed surprise, claiming he had no knowledge of the ceremony. “I came to know only after the function at the Chief Minister’s residence,” Tyagi said, underscoring the widening rift between the district unit and the state leadership.

The move, widely seen as a show of Union Minister Rao Inderjit Singh’s growing clout, has shifted the internal power dynamics within Gurugram’s BJP ahead of crucial municipal body elections. “By bringing back the councillors through Chandigarh, Rao Inderjit has underlined his central role in decision-making. It also weakens the position of the district president and traditional power brokers,” said political analyst Anil Arya.

For Rao Inderjit, the development marks a consolidation of power ahead of elections for Senior Deputy Mayor and Deputy Mayor. The return of Parminder Kataria is considered especially significant. A former Deputy Mayor and strong local face, Kataria had contested independently after being denied a BJP ticket, securing the highest number of votes across Haryana.

“I have been with the BJP for 32 years. When I respected the sentiments of the people of my ward, they made me win with the highest margin in the state. I have never betrayed the party and will always remain a BJP man,” Kataria said.

State leaders highlighted the timing of the reconciliation. “These councillors returning to the BJP strengthens the base in urban wards and reflects the leadership’s focus on unity ahead of 2029. This shows people are happy with the BJP and want to be part of it,” said Arvind Saini, state media in-charge.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Leena Dhankhar
Leena Dhankhar is Senior Editor and Bureau Chief, Gurugram, at Hindustan Times, where she has spent over 17 years chronicling the transformation of one of India's fastest-growing urban regions. From starting her career as a crime reporter to leading the Gurugram bureau, her journalism has been defined by investigative reporting, in-depth storytelling and an unwavering focus on public interest. Over nearly two decades, she has reported extensively across crime, politics, civic governance, elections, real estate, environment, courts, sports, education and entertainment, covering Gurugram, Faridabad, Nuh and Palwal. Her reporting has exposed several major scams and systemic failures, including insurance frauds, waste management irregularities, illegal arms manufacturing units in Nuh, illegal mining in the Aravallis, organised crime networks and governance lapses affecting millions of residents. Known for her investigative work and exclusive stories, Leena has reported on high-impact national issues, including the Nicaragua charter flight carrying Indian migrants that was turned back amid allegations of human trafficking, exposing the growing network of illegal immigration rackets. Her work has also focused on gang wars, prison administration, juvenile crime, women and child protection systems, the functioning of the Juvenile Justice Board and Child Welfare Committee, and environmental challenges such as pollution, waterlogging and deteriorating civic infrastructure. Beyond hard news, Leena has extensively documented Haryana's rich heritage, forests and wildlife, bringing attention to the state's historical landmarks, biodiversity, conservation efforts and ecological challenges through immersive reportage and feature writing. Her journalism has consistently gone beyond breaking news. She has documented Gurugram's rapid urbanisation through long-form narratives and enterprise reporting on issues ranging from pothole-ridden roads, flooding and waste management to the changing social fabric of India's Millennium City. She also writes widely read feature columns, including The Outsider, Changemaker, and Concern for Gurugram, profiling people, places and ideas shaping the city's identity. Leena is the author of Gurugram School Murder, published by Juggernaut Books, a deeply reported account of one of India's most high-profile school murder investigations. She is currently working on her second book, an investigative work exploring some of India's most significant scams and fraud investigations. Beyond print journalism, she has expanded her storytelling through public speaking and digital media. She is a TEDx speaker and has produced podcasts exploring Gurugram's transformation, civic challenges and untold stories. Her work reflects a commitment to narrative journalism that combines rigorous reporting with compelling storytelling. A law graduate with an MBA in Human Resources, Leena brings a multidisciplinary perspective to her reporting, particularly on governance, public policy and legal affairs. She has travelled extensively across India to pursue investigative assignments, often reporting from remote locations and conflict-prone areas in search of stories that matter.Read More

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