As former Haryana Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala mounts pressure to fell the BJP-led government in the state, a handful of his MLAs reportedly ‘met’ the former CM Manohar Lal Khattar on Thursday.
As efforts are on to bring a no-confidence motion against the Nayab Singh Saini government after three Independent MLAs pulled support from the BJP, three JJP MLAs and former CM Manohar Lal Khattar met at minister Mahipal Dhanda’s residence in Panipat fanning speculations of a switchover.
Even though Mahipal Dhanda denied any such meeting was held, according to a Times of India (TOI) report, JJP has already issued show-cause notices to the trio of Devender Babli (Tohana), Ramniwas Surjakhera (Narwana) and Jogi Ram Sihag (Barwala) over alleged anti-party activities.
Also Read: Ex-BJP ally Dushyant Chautala writes to governor seeking floor test in Haryana
However, even with all these speculations gaining traction, Dushyant Chautala appeared to have taken reports about his MLAs’ meeting with the BJP with textbook equanimity.
Switching parties is normal at election time, he told NDTV in an interview.
When asked about the possibility of an Operation Lotus by the BJP, which is in a tight spot to be in the majority after three Independent MLAs pulled out support to the government, he said, “Then the people of Haryana will come to know”. Then, he added, “Who knows, even the BJP MLAs can switch sides”.
The reports of crossover came after the BJP-led government in Haryana was plunged into crisis earlier this week as three Independent MLAs announced their support for the Congress.
Also Read: ‘JJP to vote against BJP govt in Haryana if no-confidence motion moved’: Dushyant Chautala
It was followed by a press conference by Dushyant Chautala where he declared that his party would be ready to back the Opposition against the BJP if a no-confidence motion is moved.
He chased it up with a letter to Governor Bandaru Dattatreya seeking a floor test in the Assembly against the Nayab Singh Saini-led government.
“Considering the gravity of the current circumstances and the urgent need to reinstate stability and uphold democratic norms in Haryana, I respectfully implore Your Excellency to invoke your constitutional prerogative…to direct the appropriate authority to immediately call for floor test to determine majority of government,” former Haryana deputy chief minister Chautala said in his letter.
Chautala, leader of the Jannayak Janta Party (JJP) which is a former ally of the BJP, did not mince words in expressing his party’s readiness to throw its weight behind an alternative government, signalling a potential alliance with the Congress.
Also Read: Haryana BJP government in crisis as 3 Independent MLAs cross sides, support Congress
The Nayab Singh Saini-led BJP government was formed in March after the BJP snapped its ties with the Jannayak Janta Party (JJP), the party led by Chautala, after a failed Lok Sabha seat sharing deal. Saini took office after Manohar Lal Khattar resigned and was fielded from the Karnal parliamentary seat for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in the state.
The Haryana Assembly of 90 seats, is currently occupied by 88 members, with the majority mark at 45. BJP has 40 MLAs and has the support of three out of six Independent MLAs. This means the ruling party is short of two MLAs to hit the majority.
The Congress party, on the other hand, has 30 MLAs with its count bolstered by three independent candidates. Should the JJP lend its support, the Congress’s tally would rise to 43 MLAs. This scenario leaves two MLAs unaligned-one from the Haryana Lokhit Party and the other from the INLD.