Politically speaking, Ramesh Bidhuri is not a character who can be portrayed in black or white. The South Delhi MP recently hit the headlines for using derogatory words for BSP MP Danish Ali in Parliament, forcing Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to apologise on the BJP’s behalf. Controversy’s child, a perpetual loudmouth — these phrases are often used against the former Delhi MLA. But there’s another side to Bidhuri too; he is also considered to be a grassroots leader with a huge mass base, a community leader of the Gurjars, and someone who can arrange crowds for BJP rallies overnight.
It has always been a risk for the BJP to keep him in the party, but a risk worth taking it appears. While one set of leaders – particularly some erudite leaders — complain about “leaders like Bidhuri”, another set considers him to be an “asset”. Ramesh Bidhuri, the politician, swims in between these contrasts.
Bidhuri the Bane
Not only does the Opposition consider him to be a “hate monger”, a section of the BJP, however minuscule, too considers him to be a “long-standing migraine”. It’s not just his latest choice of offensive and communal words against a Muslim MP that has put the party in an extremely uncomfortable position amid its outreach to Pasmanda Muslims, but Bidhuri has a long-standing track record of being on the wrong side.
Last year, when a parent went to seek help from him in a matter related to their child’s school, Bidhuri allegedly replied: “Why do you give birth to a child in the first place?”
He sparked off another controversy when he made a similar communal comment in his recent diatribe. “Wherever Muslims are in the minority, we speak of human rights. But wherever they are in the majority, violence breaks out,” he said.
In 2019, at a meeting in Mehrauli, Bidhuri used a Hindi slur for Delhi CM and Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal in the presence of Union Minister Giriraj Singh. He even stood by his words later, saying: “I will say this again and again, I don’t think I said anything wrong.”
In 2015, women MPs had complained against Bidhuri’s “sexist and abusive language” in the Lok Sabha. Ranjeet Ranjan, Congress MP from Supaul in Bihar, had officially complained to the Speaker about his “abusive” language against her. Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MP Supriya Sule, then Congress MP from Silchar Sushmita Dev, Trinamool Congress’s Arpita Ghosh from Balurghat constituency and CPM’s Kannur MP PK Shreemathi Teacher had accompanied Ranjan to the Speaker’s room.
Each time, the BJP was caught off guard. But over the years, the party has learnt to live with his faux pas – each bigger than the last.
Bidhuri the Boon
Ramesh Bidhuri hails from the Gurjar community, which is estimated to number around 1 crore 60 lakh across India. In poll-bound Rajasthan, they form around 5% of the population, scattered across 21 districts of the state where they can play a decisive role.
It’s no surprise then that regardless of the current controversy that forced JP Nadda to issue a showcause notice, the BJP MP has been given the charge of ensuring a win in Gurjar-heavy Tonk, which is also Congress leader Sachin Pilot’s home turf. Trinamool MP Mahua Moitra and Congress leader Jairam Ramesh have questioned Bidhuri’s appointment in the backdrop of the latest row.
BJP sources insist that the responsibility was given to Bidhuri before his controversial diatribe in Parliament and that the announcement happened to be made later. Insiders say it should not be seen as a ‘reward’ as some in the Opposition have been alleging.
The Opposition, however, has countered that even if that were the case, the appointment could have been withdrawn.
The fact that the BJP hasn’t done that shows what matters the most in electoral politics – Bidhuri is a vote catcher.
He enjoys the support of some senior BJP leaders. During the course of the last year, there have been at least two false alarms of a Union Cabinet expansion. “His name was lobbied for by more than one sitting minister. Yes, I know, it may come as a surprise to you, but he enjoys the backing of a few sitting Union Ministers,” said a BJP source.
In politics, one is either a natural crowd-puller like Prime Minister Narendra Modi or Home Minister Amit Shah, or one is an expert at building crowds for rallies. Bidhuri is said to be the latter. “He has his ways and means to get you the crowd,” said another BJP source. “During election season, Bidhuri’s talent comes in handy for the party.”
And with Assembly elections in five states around the corner, to be followed by Lok Sabha elections next year, the BJP can ill-afford to bench Bidhuri.
