Haryana: Independents may give BJP the ‘edge’

CHANDIGARH: Haryana Chief Minister ML Khattar will meet Governor Satyadev Narayan Arya, sources said Thursday as the state headed for a hung assembly and the BJP looked set to emerge as the single largest party. The BJP was leading on 40 seats in the 90-member assembly, where the majority mark is at 46. The Congress was leading on 31 seats in the state where Jat leader Dushyant Chautala’s JJP could emerge as a possible kingmaker.

A highly placed BJP source confirmed to Millennium Post that Khattar is expected to submit his resignation to Governor Satyadev Narayan Arya on Friday morning. He will further submit names of 48 elected MLAS to stake claim to form the government. After that in the evening the new state cabinet may take oath in Chandigarh.

A BJP parliamentary meeting on Thursday evening reposed faith in Khattar’s continuance as chief minister, ending suspense over whether there would be a change in guard following the party’s less than convincing performance.

Sources said that six Independents were flown into the capital on a chartered flight on Thursday night. They are expected to shore up BJP’S numbers.

Furthermore, JJP chief Dushyant Chautala was expected to meet BJP national president and Union Home Minister Amit Shah at his residence here in the national capital on Thursday night. JJP will hold its national executive meeting on Friday morning and take a call.

The people of Haryana had rejected the ruling BJP and was ready to “embrace a new dawn of justice,” said state Congress chief Kumari Selja.

Senior Congress leader and former CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda, urged non-bjp outfits to join hands.