In what has been perceived as a political upheaval in Haryana, the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) governance has been challenged as three Independent Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) have withdrawn their support. This unexpected development has been a significant talking point amidst the ongoing Lok Sabha polls and comes merely two months after the instatement of Nayab Singh Saini as Chief Minister, following the tenure of Manohar Lal Khattar.
Sombir Sangwan from Charkhi Dadri, Randhir Golan from Pundri, and Dharampal Gondar from Nilokheri are the three MLAs who expressed their decision to retract backing from the Saini-led government, switching their allegiance to the Congress for the ongoing elections. This announcement was made during a press conference in Rohtak, which also was attended by former Haryana Chief Minister and Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda.
Former Chief Minister Hooda, during the briefing, remarked that the resident’s faith in the current government was waning. Haryana is slated to conduct Lok Sabha elections on May 25, with assembly polls also set to take place later in the year. The decision taken by these three MLAs aligns with the day when voting for 93 seats occurred in the third phase of the Lok Sabha elections.
Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri acknowledged being aware of the reports concerning the MLAs’ withdraw and stated that the BJP would formulate an appropriate response upon full receipt of details about the incident.
A Congress Member of Parliament, Deepender Singh Hooda, advanced the accusation that the BJP has essentially lost its majority in the Haryana assembly, signaling a probable reconfiguration of the state’s political landscape. “The situation in Haryana is against the BJP; change is certain. The BJP government has lost the majority. Several MLAs have resigned due to their participation in the Lok Sabha election, and some independent MLAs have rescinded their support for the BJP, thus backing Congress,” Deepender Hooda explained.
Among the dissenting MLAs, Randhir Golan cited the current economic challenges, most notably high inflation and unemployment rates, as the primary reasons for withdrawing their support. He reflected on the past 4.5 years, acknowledging that they had previously upheld the BJP. Nevertheless, given the dire socio-economic circumstances, a decision was made to revoke their backing.
However, this new development has not shaken the confidence of the BJP leaders, who insist that this shift will bear no significant consequence on the stability of the Saini government. Praveen Attrey, Media Secretary to the Chief Minister of Haryana, underscored that losing the alliance of these independent MLAs to the Congress would not affect the present state government’s standing. “The Haryana government presently commands the support of 47 MLAs, maintaining its majority and thereby its safety. Legally, even the feasibility of a no-confidence motion is moot, as it cannot be solicited again within six months following a prior dismissal under the leadership of Bhupinder Singh Hooda,” Attrey elucidated.
The political maneuverings in Haryana come at a crucial time when the state is already in the throes of the national electoral process. As the political narrative unfolds, the maneuvering by the Independent MLAs may further incite strategic realignments on the chessboard of Haryana’s political arena. The future of the incumbent government looms with uncertainty as the state progresses through its election cycle.
