4 Independent Haryana MLAs Meet BJP's Biplab Deb Amid Signs Of Cracks In Coalition Govt

Four independent MLAs from Haryana have met the BJP in-charge for the state, Biplab Kumar Deb amid rising concerns of rift between the coalition parties in power here.

Amid signs of differences between the BJP and its ally Jannayak Janata Party (JJP), four independent MLAs from Haryana have met the BJP in-charge for the state, Biplab Kumar Deb, reported news agency PTI. Deb said in a statement that Haryana MLAs Dharam Pal Gonder, Rakesh Daultabad, Randhir Singh and Somveer Sangwan have expressed confidence in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership in the meeting. He further said that his party is leaving no stone unturned for the state's progress under the "double engine" government.

BJP and JJP joined hands in 2019 to form a coalition government in Haryana after the saffron party failed to get a majority. As a coalition deal, JJP leader Dushyant Chautala was made deputy chief minister. 

According to PTI, the leaders of the two parties have taken a swipe at each other recently with Deb saying that the JJP did no favour to the BJP by supporting it as the regional party also joined the government. So far, both parties have been non-committal on whether they plan to contest the 2024 assembly polls together. 

Reacting to the request for comment on some BJP leaders suggesting the party should fight the next year's polls on its own, Chautala said, "But what lies in the future... I am not an astrologer to predict that."  

"Do we have to limit the organisation to 10 seats? Not at all. Will BJP fight to limit just 40 seats? Not at all. Both parties are preparing for 90 seats," Chautala added, as quoted by PTI. 

Meanwhile, on Thursday, Arvind Kejriwal, the AAP national convener, urged the people of Haryana to consider giving his party a chance during the next year's state assembly elections. He promised to improve education and healthcare services if elected, news agency PTI reported.

During the "Tiranga Yatra" in Jind, Haryana, the Delhi chief minister made a speech alongside the Punjab counterpart Bhagwant Mann and AAP's Haryana unit chief Sushil Kumar Gupta.

During the roadshow, Kejriwal, a native of Haryana, endeavored to connect with the people on an emotional level and expressed that Haryana was his place of birth, also known as "janmabhoomi," while Delhi was where he belonged in terms of work, also known as "karambhoomi. "

Kejriwal positioned the AAP as the lone feasible option for the people of Haryana, highlighting how the state has been governed by the Congress and BJP, yet failing to recognize any of their accomplishments.