Former Haryana minister Kartar Singh Bhadana, who quit the Om Prakash Chautala Government and Indian National Lok Dal two days ago, joined the BJP here today. With his exit, Chautala can now nominate a woman candidate from Karnal where Bhadana had staked claim.The BJP, on the other hand, will field him from Dausa in Rajasthan, against Sachin Pilot, son of Rajesh Pilot. Bhadana, a businessman with interests in mining, is an influential Gujar leader. ‘‘He is a leader of the Gujar community spread over western Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir,’’ BJP general secretary Pramod Mahajan said after inducting him into the party. Bhadana had his own reasons. ‘‘I believe in Ram Rajya, how could I stay with INLD after it parted company with BJP?’’ he said. BJP sources said the party had courted both Bhadana and his brother, Avtar Singh. Since Avtar was keen on contesting from Faridabad, held by BJP leader Ram Chandra Bainda, he could not be accommodated.Bhadana’s resignation from the Assembly leaves Chautala with only 47 MLAs in the 90-member House. Chautala does have the support of a few independent MLAs but his position has taken a blow with Bhadana’s exit.For Karnal, Chautala is said to have finalised the name of Savita Narang, a two-term municipal corporator. Party sources said 45-year-old Narang has been selected due to her ‘‘good work and image’’ in public. That would make the INLD the only party to allot one-third of its tickets (three out of 10) to women. He is likely to announce her candidature tomorrow along with that of sitting MP Kailosho Devi from Kurukshetra.
