Chandigarh:

In the middle of the Lok Sabha election, dramatic developments have reduced the BJP-led state government to a minority in Haryana Assembly. The Congress is now racing against time to make the most of the situation and cobble together the numbers required to topple the Nayab Singh Saini government months before state polls.

Behind the crisis is the decision of three Independent MLAs to switch from the BJP camp to the Congress side last evening. MLAs Sombir Sangwan (Dadri), Randhir Singh Gollen (Pundri) and Dharampal Gonder (Nilokheri) announced their decision to withdraw support to the BJP government at a press meet in Rohtak yesterday. They were accompanied by Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly, Congress’s Bhupinder Singh Hooda, and state Congress chief Udai Bhan.

Addressing the media, Mr Hooda said, “The government should resign. President’s rule should be imposed in the state and elections held. This is an anti-people government.”

Chief Minister Saini, who took over the top post just about two months back, had a guarded response. “When I heard about it, I knew that moment the Congress is trying to fulfil their wishes. Everyone has a wish. But the people know. They know the Congress has got nothing to do with the wishes of people, but is only focused on fulfilling their wishes,” he said. The Chief Minister did not elaborate on how the BJP plans to counter the threat to its government.

In a significant remark, Haryana Speaker Gian Chand Gupta has said a majority test had earlier been conducted on the demand of Mr Hooda and there is no need to conduct another for six months. The Nayab Singh Saini government cleared a trust vote soon after he took over in March.

The JJP Factor

Adding a twist to the Haryana political upheaval, the BJP’s former ally Jannayak Janta Party (JJP) has offered support to the Congress. JJP leader and former Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala has said the government has lost the trust of the people. “We will support a move to bring down the government. The Congress has to decide if it will make a move or not,” he said. This comes less than two months after the BJP parted ways with JJP, which has 10 MLAs, and cobbled together enough numbers to cross the majority mark.

How The Numbers Stack Up

The 90-seat Haryana Assembly currently has 88 members. This means the majority mark is 45. The BJP has 40 MLAs of its own and is supported by three out of 6 Independent MLAs. This makes it 43, two short of the magic figure. The Congress has 30 legislators and three Independents now support it. If the JJP backs it, the Congress will have the support of 43 MLAs. This leaves two MLAs — one from Haryana Lokhit Party and the other from INLD.

The Chautala Family Factor

An interesting subplot playing out amid the Haryana government crisis is linked to the Chautala clan that once dominated the state’s political landscape before a string of poll setbacks, convictions and a split reduced INLD to a one-man party in the Assembly. Currently, INLD general secretary Abhay Chautala is the party’s lone MLA in the Assembly. Now that the JJP, led by Mr Chautala’s estranged nephew Dushyant Chautala has offered support to the Congress, the question is will Abhay Chautala remain on the same side or join ranks with BJP.

Rohtak (Haryana):

After three independent MLAs withdrew their support to the Nayab Singh Saini-led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Haryana, Leader of Opposition of the Haryana Legislative Assembly Bhupinder Singh Hooda said that the state government has lost the moral right to be in power and President’s Rule should be imposed.

“Three independent MLAs who had supported BJP government in the state have withdrawn their support today and have decided to support Congress. They have taken this decision as per public sentiment which is against the state government,” Mr Hooda said speaking to ANI on Tuesday.

On being asked whether the state government is at risk of losing its majority in the House, the senior Congress leader said, “The state government has lost the moral right to be in power. This government should resign and President’s Rule should be imposed in the state so that elections can be held independently.”

Mr Hooda said that the support of the Independent MLAs will strengthen their campaign for the Lok Sabha elections.

“They will be supporting the Congress. In the parliamentary elections, they will be supporting the Congress from outside. This will benefit the Congress,” Hooda said.

Meanwhile, BJP leader Jawahar Yadav assured that the Haryana government has no threat as it has the required majority.

“There is no danger to the Haryana government. Even after the three independent MLAs who have said that they have withdrawn support from the Haryana government, the Nayab Singh Saini government has the required majority. This can only be proven in the Vidhan Sabha. Bhupinder Singh Hooda of the Congress is only misleading people,” Mr Yadav said speaking to ANI on Tuesday.

Mr Yadav said that conducting a trust vote in the Assembly in the next six months is difficult but they will be able to prove their majority if needed.

“On March 13, Nayab Singh Saini won the trust vote in the state assembly. Another trust vote within the next six months is difficult. If such a situation arises we will prove our majority,” the BJP leader said.

Hitting out at the Leader of Opposition, Mr Yadav said, “I would like to challenge Bhupinder Singh Hooda to come to the Assembly and prove his majority. The BJP government has the required majority and our Chief Minister is Nayab Singh Saini.”

Three Independent MLAs withdrew their support to the BJP in Haryana amid the Lok Sabha polls and within two months of Nayab Singh Saini taking over as Chief Minister of the state.

The three MLAs — Sombir Sangwan (Charkhi Dadri), Randhir Golan (Pundri),and Dharampal Gondar (Nilokheri) – said they have decided to withdraw support from the Saini government and extend support to the Congress during the elections.

In the House of 90, the BJP has 39 MLAs, the Congress has 30, the Jan Nayak Janata Party has 10, the Haryana Lokhit Party (HLP) has one, and the Indian National Lok Dal has one, along with seven Independents.

The BJP which had 41 MLAs initially was reduced to 39 when the Karnal and Rania seats fell vacant following the resignation of two MLAs.

Earlier six out of seven Independent MLAs used to support the BJP. With three Independents withdrawing their support, the BJP at present, has the support of three Independents and one HLP MLA, making it a government of 43 MLAs.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)