The Aryavarth Express
Agency(New Delhi): Ajay Singh Chautala, leader of the Jannayak Janta Party (JJP), declared on Wednesday that his party has steadfastly upheld the principles of alliance (‘gathbandhan dharma’) with complete sincerity throughout their four-and-a-half-year partnership. This assertion comes in the aftermath of the JJP’s termination of its alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which coincided with a major shift in Haryana’s chief ministership, where Nayab Singh Saini replaced Manohar Lal Khattar.
Chautala’s comments followed recent developments, including the JJP’s unsuccessful negotiation with the BJP for two Lok Sabha seats in Haryana for the forthcoming general elections. Detailing the negotiations, Chautala recounted efforts made by Dushyant Chautala, who met with BJP President J P Nadda to discuss seat sharing, only to face rejection.
In a gesture of compromise, Chautala mentioned that he had proposed to the BJP leadership that the JJP would abstain from contesting any seats if the BJP fulfilled its promise of providing Rs 5,100 per month under the Old Age Pension scheme, thereby offering full support to the BJP across all 10 seats in Haryana. This proposal underscores the JJP’s emphasis on policy over political gain, with Chautala affirming, “We are not power hungry.”
The swift transition in Haryana’s leadership, which saw OBC leader Nayab Singh Saini ascend to the chief ministership, marks a significant political shift ahead of the Lok Sabha polls. Saini’s inauguration, along with five ministers, occurred just hours after Khattar and his cabinet’s unexpected resignation, signaling a new phase for Haryana’s political landscape.
Chautala’s remarks highlight the JJP’s commitment to the alliance’s ethical obligations and its readiness to prioritize the welfare of the elderly over electoral ambitions, reflecting a principled stance in the tumultuous arena of political alliances.
