Haryana Political Crisis: Congress Says BJP Can't Run Minority Government, Speaker Responds
Haryana Political Crisis: The Congress sought the imposition of President's Rule followed by fresh elections in the state day after the Independent MLAs withdrew support.
Haryana News: Amid the ongoing Lok Sabha elections, the Nayab Singh Saini-led Bharatiya Janata Party government in Haryana got a setback after three Independent MLAs on Tuesday withdrew support to the saffron party in the state and announced they would back the Congress. This decision led to the reduction of the Nayab Singh Saini government to a minority in the state assembly.
The three Independent MLAs who withdrew their support from the BJP Sombir Sangwan (Dadri), Randhir Singh Gollen (Pundri) and Dharampal Gonder (Nilokheri) announced their decision at a press conference in Rohtak in the presence of Leader of the Opposition Bhupinder Singh Hooda and state Congress chief Udai Bhan.
On Wednesday, the Congress sought the imposition of President's Rule followed by fresh elections in the state day after the Independent MLAs withdrew support. According to news agency PTI, the grand old party said it would write to Haryana Governor Bandaru Dattatreya to demand that the saffron party government be dismissed. It also asked the JJP, the INLD and Independent MLA Balraj Kundu to write similar letters to the governor to give credence to their claim of opposing the BJP.
Following the latest development, the government which has the support of two other Independents is now two short of the majority mark in the 90-member House which has a current strength of 88.
"We are going to write to the Governor that three Independent MLAs have withdrawn support and they have extended support to our party... the government is in the minority and they have no right to stay in power. We will demand that the government be dismissed, President's Rule be imposed and fresh elections be held," Haryana Congress chief Udai Bhan said, as quoted by PTI.
"Likewise, the JJP should also write a letter that the government be dismissed. INLD's Abhay Singh Chautala and Independent MLA Balraj Kundu, who claim to be opposing the government, should also write similar letters to the Governor," he further stated. The BJP has 40 MLAs, the Congress 30 and the JJP 10 in the House.
Voting is set to be held in Haryana for the Lok Sabha elections on May 25 to elect 10 members of Parliament. In 2019, the saffron party swept the state and bagged all 10 seats.
Decision Can Not Be Taken Only On Opposition's Demand: Haryana Assembly Speaker
Speaking on the political developments in the state and opposition's demand to dismiss the BJP government in the state, Haryana Assembly Speaker Gian Chand Gupta said that decision can not be taken only on their (opposition) demand. Technically, the situation which is same as it was one month ago.
"A decision can not be taken only on their (opposition) demand. Technically, the situation which is same as it was one month ago. Even today, BJP has 40 MLAs, Congress has 30 MLAs, 10 are of JJP, six are independent, and one MLA is of HLP and one MLA from INLD," Gupta said.
VIDEO | Here's what Haryana Assembly Speaker Gian Chand Gupta (@GianChandBjp) said on political developments in the state.
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 8, 2024
"A decision can not be taken only on their (opposition) demand. Technically, the situation which is same as it was one month ago. Even today, BJP has 40… pic.twitter.com/onOryh8m8Q
Govt Not In Any Trouble Is Working Strongly: Nayab Singh Saini
On Wednesday, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini said that his government is not in any trouble and working strongly. He blamed the Congress for creating the confusion that his government is in trouble. "The government is not in any trouble, it is working strongly," Saini told reporters at Sirsa when asked to comment on the withdrawal of support, as quoted by PTI.
Saini slammed the Congress and said that it has been the opposition party's thinking that it should fulfil the personal aspirations of some people. "When they ruled at the Centre, you must have seen that when they felt their government was in trouble, they used to fulfil the aspirations of some people," he said, as quoted by PTI. But the people of Haryana are not going to fulfil the aspirations of the Congress, the chief minister added.
Saini said the "double-engine" government has ensured development in various spheres in the country as well as in the state. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP believe in development," he said. The Haryana CM said the entire country is witnessing the misdeeds of the Congress.
"The Congress knows that it cannot fulfil the aspirations of people and misleads them. It tries to create a state of confusion that the (state) government is in minority. The government is in no trouble and it is functioning strongly," he asserted, as quoted by PTI.
Govt Should Resign: Congress Leader Hooda
On Tuesday, Leader of the Opposition Bhupinder Singh Hooda said, "The government should resign. President's rule should be imposed in the state and elections held. This is an anti-people government," as quoted by PTI.
The grand old party in a statement said that the three MLAs have already sent letters to the governor saying they have withdrawn their support to the government, as reported by PTI.
Meanwhile, JJP leader Digvijay Singh Chautala said Hooda should initiate the process to "bring down the government which has lost trust of people". He also said Hooda should immediately meet the governor and apprise him of the situation.
Hooda expressed his gratitude to the three MLAs for their support and said they have taken this decision keeping in mind the public sentiments. The leader of the opposition said there is a wave in favour of the Congress in the country including Haryana and that the Independent MLAs have taken this decision respecting the sentiments of people, as reported by PTI. He claimed people have made up their mind to form the Congress government in the state.
Saini-Led BJP Govt in Haryana Won Trust Vote On March 13
The Saini-led BJP government in Haryana had on March 13 won the trust vote by voice vote in the House after he took oath as the new chief minister replacing Manohar Lal Khattar. Recently, several MLAs of JJP have come out in support of the ruling BJP. Khattar, who is contesting Lok Sabha polls from Karnal, had resigned as MLA from Karnal.
Former Haryana minister Ranjit Singh Chautala also resigned in March as MLA. He was an Independent MLA from Rania segment and resigned on March 24 as he joined the BJP, which has announced his candidature for Hisar Lok Sabha seat.
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