New Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini proved the majority of his government on the floor of the Legislative Assembly on Wednesday. Saini moved the confidence motion in the Assembly earlier in the day after which proceedings of the House convened.
The Dushyant Chautala-led Jannayak Janata Party issued a three-line whip ahead of the floor test asking its MLAs to remain absent in the Assembly today. But some legislators defied the whip and reached the Assembly but later staged a walkout.
Ahead of the floor test, CM Saini said that he had the support of 48 MLAs in the 90-member Haryana Legislative Assembly.
The floor test came a day after Nayab Singh Saini took oath as the Chief Minister of Haryana after the sudden resignation of Manohar Lal Khattar along with his cabinet. Along with Saini, five MLAs from the BJP Kanwar Pal (Jagadhari), Mool Chand Sharma (Ballabhgarh), Jai Parkash Dalal (Loharu) and Banwari Lal (Bawal), and an Independent MLA Ranjit Singh Chautala also took the oath as ministers.
The entire crisis unfolded after Dushyant Chautala-led Jannayak Janata Party decided to quit the ruling BJP-JJP alliance in the state.
In the 90-member Haryana Legislative Assembly, Bharatiya Janata Party has 41 MLAs and enjoys the support of six out of the seven Independents and also the support from lone MLA Gopal Kanda from Haryana Lokhit Party. While Congress, the main opposition party has 30 MLAs, one MLA is from the Indian National Lok Dal.
Hours after resigning as Chief Minister, Khattar hinted that he may be given a ticket by the saffron party to contest the Lok Sabha polls. Speaking to reporters, Khattar said that the party high command has told him that he will be given another responsibility. "It may be decided soon." "Maybe it is about Lok Sabha polls. I think it is possible...whatever the parliamentary board (of BJP) decides, I will abide by it," he said.
According to media reports, speculations are rife that Khattar may get a ticket to contest Lok Sabha polls from Karna seat.