Senior Congress leader Shamsher Singh Surjewala had opposed move of merger of Bhajan Lal led Haryana Janata Party govt into Congress

Gustakhi Maaf Haryana- Pawan Kumar Bansal

Senior Congress leader Shamsher Singh Surjewala had opposed move of merger of Bhajan Lal led Haryana Janata Party govt into Congress but caucus around then PM Indira Gandhi wanted Congress govt in Haryana at any cost employing all possible means,

Extracts from my coming book on politics culture and governance of Haryana “ Murky politics of Haryana “.
Senior Congress leader Shamsher Singh Surjewala had opposed the merger of the Bhajan Lal-led Janata Party government into the Congress in Haryana, after mid term polls of Loksabha citing concerns over political morality and stability.
A veteran Congress figure, Surjewala had notably won the Narwana assembly seat in 1977 despite the sweeping Janata Party wave across the country. Following the Janata Party’s defeat in the 1980 Lok Sabha elections, then Haryana Chief Minister Bhajan Lal orchestrated a dramatic political shift by merging his entire government into the Congress. Surjewala strongly objected to this move, arguing that it would foster political instability and was ethically questionable.
However, according to Surjewala, the coterie surrounding then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was determined to establish a Congress government in Haryana at any cost, employing all possible means. His objections were ultimately overruled.
In his autobiography “Mera Safar – Meri Dastaan,” edited by Dr. Jagdeep Sharma, Surjewala reveals that he was initially unwilling to join the Bhajan Lal-led Congress government as a minister. Nevertheless, under pressure from Indira Gandhi, he was compelled to reconsider his stance. The book was slated for a grand release in Delhi, but the event was postponed due to his ill health.
Surjewala recounts that Indira Gandhi’s private secretary, R.K. Dhawan, conveyed the Prime Minister’s desire that he accept a ministerial position. A month later, Dhawan informed him that the decision had been finalized and communicated to Bhajan Lal. Subsequently, Bhajan Lal reached out to Surjewala through the Deputy Commissioner of Jind. At the time, Surjewala was with his friend Sajjan Kumar in Jind.
Known for his close relations with Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, and Sonia Gandhi, Surjewala also writes about alleged attempts by Bhajan Lal to ensure his defeat in the 1982 elections. He recalls Rajiv Gandhi campaigning in his constituency, even driving a Jonga jeep through the area. Surjewala also facilitated Sonia Gandhi’s visit to Jind, where she met families of farmers driven to suicide.
He claims that both Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi wanted him to become Chief Minister, though fate did not align in his favor. In 1987, during the Devi Lal government, Surjewala undertook a padyatra against what he described as anti-people policies and courted arrest.
A man known for his intellectual pursuits and strong social circle, Surjewala maintained close friendships with figures such as Laxman Dev Arya, Vinod Chugha, Lala Kali Ram, Babu Jagdish Rai, and Dr. Uttam Singh. His associates recall his love for travel, with frequent visits to Shimla, Mussoorie, Kolkata, and Vaishno Devi. Weekends often saw him return from Chandigarh to Narwana, where he would host lively gatherings with friends.
An avid reader, Surjewala developed an early interest in literature and later regularly read multiple Hindi and English newspapers. He believed strongly in the power of the press and engaged actively with journalists. He also writes fondly of his wife, Vidya Devi, describing her as intellectually sharp despite limited formal education.
Influenced by communist ideology, Surjewala came from a prosperous landowning family and recalls a simple childhood, including bathing in village ponds. He credits his teacher, Ram Singh Mehanti, as a formative influence.
In 1977, he became leader of the Congress legislature party but the party split a year later. With the state Congress office under the control of Banarasi Das Gupta, Surjewala operated from his MLA flat on Indira Gandhi’s instructions. Gupta even offered him the state Congress chief position if he rejoined the old Congress faction, an offer he declined.
The author of this column shares a long-standing association with Surjewala dating back to his early journalism days as a correspondent for The Indian Express in Jind.
Surjewala’s son, Randeep Singh Surjewala, later served as a minister in the Hooda government and is regarded as a key political strategist. In an interesting political twist, despite an announcement by Sonia Gandhi, Randeep Surjewala was denied a party ticket from the Hisar Lok Sabha constituency in 2004, allegedly due to a strategic alliance between Bhupinder Singh Hooda and Birender Singh—then political rivals—who pressured the leadership that if denied ticket Jaiparkash alias JP will join the BJP.
Today, Randeep Surjewala is considered close to Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi, and his son has also entered electoral politics as an MLA .During function after his marriage in a Delhi hotel Randeep Surjewala introduced this writer to his son “ touch his feet,he is friend of your grandfather.