Union Minister of State (Planning) and Gurgaon Lok Sabha member Rao Inderjit Singh, a prominent Ahirwal leader, has, in a podcast, said that former Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal could not become a “mass leader”, but still wields influence in the State government with many bureaucrats continuing to hold important posts in the Chief Minister’s Office since his tenure.

The six-time Lok Sabha MP, in a “NJP Haryana” podcast, said despite his differences with Mr. Lal, now Union Urban Affairs Minister, he would concede that he made Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s slogan of “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas (Collective efforts, Inclusive development)” a reality in Haryana. “The Manohar Lal regime changed the way his predecessors worked for their own districts and castes. Our party gave the slogan “Sabha Saath Sabka Vikas”, and it was a success. People believed in it,” said Mr. Rao.

Saying that Mr. Lal could not fulfil his ambition of becoming a “mass leader” as the Jats did not vote for the party, Mr. Singh added that he has his influence intact in the State. Mr. Rao said several bureaucrats continue to hold important posts in the CMO.

Chief Principal Secretary to CM, Rajesh Khullar; Special Officer to CM (Community Policing and Outreach), Pankaj Nain; Officer Special Duty (OSD), Bharat Bhushan Bharti; OSD to CM (CM Window and Jan Samvad) Vivek Kalia, Political Secretary to CM Tarun Bhandari and Media Secretary to CM Praveen Attrey are some of the important officials and appointees who continue to be in the CMO.

On his ambition to be the Chief Minister, the septuagenarian leader, said, it is a “crown of thorns” and he, having a reputation of someone who prefers a comfortable life, is not prepared to “run around”. “If the post of CM falls in my lap, then it is fine,” he said.

Mr. Singh said he retaliates on being “provoked intentionally” as it is not in his character to hide. That, he said, could be reason for him not being on good terms with most of the Chief Ministers. He, however, said he supported Mr. Saini, and expressed hope that “gradually he will stand on his own feet, will think on own and work in Haryana’s interest”.

Claiming to be a leader with the largest support base in Haryana, Mr. Singh said efforts were made to deny him the credit for the work done by him.

His assertions in the podcast mark a significant shift from his earlier views on Mr. Lal with a rare praise for him and softening of his stand on the claim to the post of CM. It could partially be attributed to his growing age, and the party finally offering ticket to his daughter Arti Singh in the previous Assembly election and making her a Cabinet Minister.