Days after three Independent MLAs pulled out support for BJP and favoured Congress, Jannayak Janta Party (JJP) leader and former Deputy Chief Minister of Haryana Dushyant Chautala has written to Governor Bandaru Dattatreya seeking a floor test in the Assembly.

“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, Indian Express reported.

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: ‘JJP to vote against BJP govt in Haryana if no-confidence motion moved’: Dushyant Chautala

The call for a floor test comes after three Independent MLAs from the BJP pulled out their support and announced it in favour of the Congress faction in the state. MLAs Sombir Sangwan (representing Dadri), Randhir Singh Gollen (from Pundri), and Dharampal Gonder (of Nilokheri) declared their intention to cut support for the BJP administration during a press conference held in Rohtak. They were accmpanied by Bhupinder Singh Hooda, the Leader of Opposition in the Haryana Assembly and Udai Bhan, the state Congress chief.

Later on Wednesday, Chautala said his party would be ready to back the Opposition against the BJP if a no-confidence motion is moved.

The Nayab Singh Saini-led BJP government was formed in March after the saffron party ended its ties with the Jannayak Janta Party (JJP), the party led by Chautala. 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 JJP is not supporting the Saini-led BJP government.

Also Read: Haryana BJP government in crisis as 3 Independent MLAs cross sides, support Congress

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.