The development assumes significance amid a crisis of sorts faced by the Prime Minister Nayab Saini-led government in Haryana after three independent legislators – Dharampal Gondher, Randhir Golan and Sombir Sangwan – withdrew support to the BJP government and decided instead to support Congress.
All this is happening days ahead of the Lok Sabha elections to the 10 Haryana seats on May 25 and the state Assembly elections scheduled to take place later this year.
Government is intact, says BJP
However, the BJP insists that the Nayab Saini-led Haryana government is safe. The ruling party said that even if the need arises, other MLAs will support the government to help it see through it.
Also read: 'Ye jooth ka silsila…': Haryana CM Nayab Saini says 'people won't let Congress fulfill his wishes'
“There is no threat to our government. It will continue to serve the people. We will win an absolute majority in the next Assembly elections so that such a situation never arises again,” former Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar told reporters on May 8..
The March crisis
But what explains the BJP's confidence? In March this year, the Opposition Congress led by former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda moved a no-confidence motion against the Saini government. Saini won the motion.
At that time, the BJP had 41 MLAs in the 90-member Haryana Assembly after 10 MLAs from its ally, the Dushyant Chautala-led JJP, decided to part ways. As many as six independent MLAs and one MLA from the Haryana Lokhit Party (HLP) supported the BJP government.
Also read: Haryana news: Dushyant Chautala says Congress won't topple BJP government 'because of ED and CBI cases'
The Congress Party had thirty MLAs, the INLD one, while one independent MLA had abstained. Since none of the JJP MLAs voted, the BJP could easily win the floor test.
Confidence motion unlikely
According to the rules, two motions of no confidence cannot be submitted within six months. Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda has said that the motion cannot be moved at this time even as he insists that the chief minister should resign as the BJP government is now in minority, according to a report in the newspaper. Indian Express.
As things stand in the Haryana Assembly, the current strength of the House is 88 since two MLAs — former CM Manohar Lal Khattar and Ranjit Singh — resigned. Khattar is the BJP candidate from Karnal Lok Sabha seat while Singh is contesting from Hisar in the upcoming general elections.
The numbers
In the 88-member House of Representatives, the BJP needs 45 MLAs to sustain its government. For now, it has 40 MLAs. The saffron party has the support of two independent MLAs and the lone HLP MLA, taking the total to 43. With the claimed support of three of the JJP's ten MLAs, the BJP's tally rises to 46, one more than the magic number required in the Haryana Assembly.
Also read: Haryana crisis: Can Congress topple BJP government if three independent parties switch sides?
These three JJP MLAs have already been served notices by the JJP for 'anti-party' activities. In case of disqualification from the House of Representatives, the total strength will drop to 85 and so will the magic majority number to 43, a number that the BJP has.
Both parties have claimed that they are in touch with many MLAs who can influence the numbers anyway.
Congress's game plan
If the opposition wants to make a claim, it must seek an appointment with the state's governor. Ideally, Congress, the largest opposition party in Haryana, should do this. But for now, the JJP has written to the governor requesting a floor test. The Leader of Opposition in the Haryana Assembly had said on May 8 that even Dushyant Chautala could also do it. Now that he has done it, will Congress follow suit? Remains to be seen.
Also read: Political crisis in Haryana: 'BJP will win all 10 Lok Sabha seats,' says former CM Manohar Lal Khattar| 10 updates
And in case the Congress and the JJP meet the governor and stake a claim to form the government, the ball is then in the governor's court. The governor may as well ask the BJP to prove majority. In that scenario, the role of JJP MLAs will be crucial. It is not necessary that the BJP will not be able to win the floor test again.
Reports also suggested that Congress wants to focus on the Lok Sabha elections scheduled for May 25 for now. The BJP had won all ten seats in 2019. In any case, the grand old party can shift its focus to the state assembly after the elections. general elections and close to the parliamentary elections scheduled for later this year.
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Published: May 9, 2024 5:18 PM IST