Independents quit, BJP govt in Haryana loses majority

CHANDIGARH: With only months left for the next Haryana Assembly polls, three independent MLAs on Tuesday withdrew support to the Nayab Singh Saini-led BJP regime and announced they would back the Congress, reducing the government to a minority.

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.

In recent days, some Jannayak Janata Party (JJP) MLAs have indicated support to the BJP though the JJP pulled out of the coalition government in March. The BJP has 40 MLAs, the Congress 30 and the JJP 10.

Independent MLAs Sombir Sangwan, Randhir Singh Gollen and Dharampal Gonder announced their decision at a press conference in Rohtak in the presence of opposition leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda and State Congress chief Udai Bhan.

“The government should resign. President’s rule should be imposed in the State and elections held. This is an anti-people government,” Hooda said. The Congress said in a statement the three MLAs have already sent letters to the Governor saying they have withdrawn their support to the government.

At the presser, Gonder said, “We are withdrawing support to the government and have decided to extend support to the Congress. We have taken this decision due to various issues, including those of farmers, inflation and unemployment.”

Udai Bhan said, “The three Independent MLAs have extended their support to the Congress... Nayab Singh Saini government is now a minority government. Saini should tender his resignation as he does not have right to stay even for a minute,” the Congress leader said. Hooda expressed his gratitude to the three MLAs for their support and said they have taken this decision keeping in mindthe public sentiments.