India
Smriti Irani Cracks Whip, Asks Haryana Govt To Withdraw Security For BJP District Presidents
By: News18 India
Published: 24 October 2026
Photo / Illustration: Haldwani Times News Desk
<p>In a move seen as an attempt to end VIP culture, BJP General Secretary Smriti Irani has requested the Haryana government to withdraw the security cover provided to all BJP district presidents in the state, party sources told News18.</p>
<p>Irani, who took charge as the BJP’s Haryana affairs in-charge last month, raised the issue during a meeting in Panchkula on Friday after receiving a complaint about excessive security arrangements for the Gurugram BJP president and outside the party’s district office, sources added.</p>
<p>Party sources told News18 that Irani is believed to have asked during the meeting how BJP district leaders could expect to connect with people when they themselves were surrounded by security.</p>
<p>Irani’s First Haryana Visit After Taking Charge</p>
<p>The development came during Irani’s two-day visit to Haryana, which concluded on Friday evening. It was her first visit since being appointed the BJP’s Haryana affairs in-charge.</p>
<p>Accompanied by Haryana co-in-charge Bhola Singh, Irani held a series of organisational meetings in Panchkula.</p>
<p>According to PTI, Friday’s meetings were attended by several senior BJP leaders, including Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, Union ministers Manohar Lal and Rao Inderjit Singh, Haryana minister Anil Vij and state BJP president Archana Gupta.</p>
<p>Haryana Health Minister Arti Singh Rao told reporters in Panchkula that “the discussions focused on how we can further strengthen the party organisation in the state and how to effectively take the BJP government’s work to people…"</p>
<p>State BJP president Archana Gupta said the discussions also covered coordination between the party organisation and the government, ensuring welfare schemes reach every individual and accelerating development work in line with public aspirations.</p>
<p>“Our collective resolve is to take Haryana to new heights of progress through public service, good governance, and development," Gupta said.</p>
<p>In a statement issued on Thursday, the Haryana BJP said it had set a target of constituting and reconstituting 11-member committees at every booth across the state within the next three months.</p>
<p>The party also plans to appoint panna pramukhs, workers responsible for individual pages of the electoral roll, at every booth.</p>
<p>Senior party office-bearers will visit districts, interact directly with workers and undertake overnight stays to review organisational activities and strengthen ties with longstanding party members.</p>
<p>“The organisational meetings on the first day focused on booth empowerment, workers’ participation and ensuring that welfare schemes reach eligible beneficiaries," the BJP said.</p>
<p>Haryana BJP chief spokesperson Sanjay Sharma had earlier said Irani and Bhola Singh’s visit was aimed at providing fresh momentum to the party’s organisational activities, reviewing its functioning and formulating strategies for upcoming programmes.</p>
<p>BJP General Secretary Smriti Irani requested the withdrawal of security cover for district presidents to help end VIP culture. She raised the issue after receiving a complaint regarding excessive security arrangements for the Gurugram BJP president and outside the district party office.</p>
<p>During her two-day visit to Haryana, Smriti Irani held organisational meetings in Panchkula alongside co-in-charge Bhola Singh. The discussions included senior leaders like Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini and focused on strengthening the party organization, booth empowerment, and ensuring welfare schemes reach eligible beneficiaries.</p>
<p>The Haryana BJP has set a target to constitute and reconstitute 11-member committees at every booth across the state within three months. The party also plans to appoint panna pramukhs at every booth and have senior office-bearers undertake overnight stays in districts to review activities and strengthen ties with members.</p>
