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BJP’s Rajiv Pratap Rudy and Dr. Sanjeev Balyan compete for Secretary (Administration) at the Constitution Club of India. The vote on August 12 will decide the outcome.
The ‘Thakur vs Jat’ caste contest has added another layer in the election to the post of secretary (administration) of the Constitution Club. (Image: Sourced/X)
This is no ordinary election. At stake is the coveted post of secretary (administration) of the Constitution Club of India — a position that commands influence in the only members’ club exclusively for current and former MPs.
This time, the battle lines are drawn between two vastly different BJP heavyweights — the suave and seasoned Rajiv Pratap Rudy, who has been at the club’s helm for more than 25 years, and Muzaffarnagar’s former MP Dr Sanjeev Balyan, who is contesting for the first time.
Rudy’s supporters hail him as the man who transformed the club from a crumbling property into a modern facility boasting a spa, restaurants, a swimming pool, gym, and sports amenities. But his challenger, less than a decade into club membership, is campaigning hard on promises to put members first — amid murmurs that bureaucrats have been given too much leeway under his opponent’s watch.
What makes this contest fascinating is that it is not just a matter of governance — it’s a reflection of caste alignments, personal loyalties, and intra-party manoeuvring. Rudy, a Thakur from Bihar, is banking on his long-standing rapport with senior leaders including friends across party lines from the Congress, NCP, and DMK. Balyan, a Jat from western Uttar Pradesh, is relying on his grassroots connections especially in the Hindi heartland and southern states.
In a twist of political fate, Nishikant Dubey — once a close ally of Rudy — is now openly campaigning for Balyan. He is joined by BJP floor strategist CM Ramesh, who, insiders said, has been instrumental in mobilising support even from opposition members with backing from Telangana Congress leaders reportedly on Chief Minister Revanth Reddy’s instructions including MPs from TDP, BRS, DMK and AIADMK.
“Nobody can doubt the ability that Ramesh has in mobilising. He has successfully done so even during the abrogation of Article 370,” the team members said.
Balyan’s campaign seems to be of a military precision: senior leaders have been assigned 20 MPs each to bring to the voting booth, and outreach has extended to members from Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Jammu and Kashmir. Shrikant Shinde of the Shiv Sena and Lahu Krishna from the TDP are some MPs who have been assigned states to focus on.
Dubey is also making use of his friendship and connection with party persons across the platform. It is even learnt that CM Omar Abdullah has promised that his party will support Balyan’s candidature in this contest.
“Top brass of the NDA government have also in a way indicated which side they would want to support in this election,” a source said.
While one of the top five ministers in the central government said it will be better for him not to vote because it would be difficult to pick sides, one of the most vocal ministers said he will definitely cast his vote, and that there should be no confusion over his choice.
Parliament premises have turned into a stage for this high-stakes duel. Rudy is usually seen near the Makar Dwar, where opposition MPs pass, while Balyan prefers Hans Dwar, frequented by ruling party MPs.
Rudy’s strategy is call-heavy — phone outreach, personal messages, and targeted conversations with influential members. Balyan’s is more on-the-ground — meeting MPs at their homes and offices, securing promises of travel arrangements for former MPs so they can vote in person.
Postal ballots have become another battleground. Rudy’s camp claims a strong lead through absentee votes, but Balyan’s team insists that physically present voters will tilt the numbers in their favour, rendering some postal ballots redundant.
The ‘Thakur versus Jat’ caste contest has only added another layer to the fight. Both leaders are leveraging their identities alongside their political capital to court votes. Members said this election has the feel of a mini-general election, with state satraps, cross-party friendships, and even promises of travel support in play.
Monday marks the last day of campaigning before Tuesday’s crucial vote on August 12. The stakes are sky-high — 1,250 active MPs, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, JP Nadda, Sonia Gandhi, and Rahul Gandhi, will decide the outcome.
The Constitution Club, founded by the Constituent Assembly, has always been more than a social space — it is a political hub where influence is forged and alliances are tested. This year’s election, pitting old-guard experience against fresh-field energy, has become a political thriller playing out in real time.
Will Rudy’s decades of dominance hold? Or will Balyan’s aggressive, personalised outreach rewrite the script? By Tuesday evening, the votes will reveal whether the BJP’s internal clash leaves the Constitution Club’s balance of power unchanged or forever altered.
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