Dushyant Chautala of the Jannayak Janta Party (JJP) on Thursday wrote to the Haryana governor seeking a floor test against the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party government in the state, days after three Independent MLAs withdrew their support to the Nayab Singh Saini government. The Jannayak Janata Party, BJP’s former ally, has already said it is ready to help the Congress bring down the BJP government in Haryana.
On May 7, the Haryana government suffered a jolt after the sudden move by three Independent MLAs, pushing the government into a minority. The three MLAs are Randhir Golan from Pundri, Dharmpal Gonder from Nilokheri and Sombir Singh Sangwan from Charkhi Dadri. All of them decided to extend support to Congress.
“The government that was formed two months back is now in the minority because two of the MLAs who supported them – one from the BJP and the other an Independent MLA – have resigned. Three Independent MLAs who were supporting them have withdrawn their support and have written to the Governor. The JJP has clearly said that if a no confidence motion is brought against this government, we will support the motion. We have also written to the Governor about it. Now, the Congress has to take this step (seeking a floor test). The Congress will have to decide if they are going to take any steps to corner the current BJP government or not,” Dushyant Chautala told news agency ANI.
He added that the governor should implement the President’s Rule in Haryana if the state government doesn’t have the “majority.”
“The governor has the power to order a floor test to see if the government has the strength and if it doesn’t have the majority, immediately implement President’s Rule in the state,” he added.
Chief minister Nayab Singh Saini, however, asserted that his government is not in any trouble. His predecessor and party colleague ML Khattar also claimed that many MLAs are in touch with the BJP and there is “nothing to worry “.
The fast-paced political developments in the state come at a time when Lok Sabha polls are just a fortnight away and assembly elections are scheduled to be held in October.
The 90-member Haryana assembly, at present, has an effective strength of 88 with Karnal and Rania assembly seats being vacant. The BJP has 40 MLAs, the Congress 30 and the JJP 10 in the House. The INLD and Haryana Lokhit Party has one member. Independents are six.
The government has the support of two of the Independent legislators. Independent MLA Nayan Pal Rawat said he had given unconditional support to the BJP in 2019 and it is continuing even now.