The Aryavarth Express
Agency (Haryana): The Congress on Wednesday, 8 May, demanded the imposition of President’s Rule and fresh elections in Haryana after three Independent MLAs withdrew their support from the BJP government, reducing the Nayab Singh Saini administration to a minority in the state assembly.
The Congress announced plans to write to Haryana Governor Bandaru Dattatreya, urging the dismissal of the BJP government. They also called on the JJP, the INLD, and Independent MLA Balraj Kundu to send similar letters to strengthen their collective opposition to the BJP.
Haryana Congress chief Udai Bhan stated, “We are going to write to the Governor that three Independent MLAs have withdrawn support and they have extended support to our party… the government is in the minority and they have no right to stay in power. We will demand that the government be dismissed, President’s Rule be imposed and fresh elections be held.”
Bhan urged the JJP, led by Dushyant Chautala, to officially withdraw their support for the BJP government. “Like the three Independent MLAs wrote a letter to the Governor stating they have withdrawn their support… The JJP should also do this,” he said.
JJP leader Dushyant Chautala commented on the situation, indicating potential support for the Congress. “I want to tell Leader of Opposition Bhupinder Singh Hooda that going by the present numbers in the Assembly, if a step is taken that this government is brought down during (Lok Sabha) elections, then we will fully consider to support them in this,” Chautala said.
The three Independent MLAs—Sombir Sangwan (Dadri), Randhir Singh Gollen (Pundri), and Dharampal Gonder (Nilokheri)—announced their decision to withdraw support from the BJP government on Tuesday, 7 May, and expressed their backing for the Congress.
Despite these developments, Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini asserted that his government remains strong. “We are not in trouble and are working effectively,” he stated.
BJP’s Jawahar Yadav also dismissed concerns about the government’s stability, noting that the Saini government won a trust vote on 13 March. He affirmed that the government, which now has the support of two other Independents, is ready to prove its majority on the House floor if necessary. The BJP currently has 40 MLAs, the Congress 30, and the JJP 10 in the 90-member House, which now has 88 active members.
Randhir Singh Gollen, one of the MLAs who withdrew support, had previously run as an Independent and defeated a Congress candidate in the 2019 Haryana assembly polls. Gonder, another Independent MLA, won against a BJP nominee, while Sangwan defeated a JJP candidate in the previous assembly elections.
With state assembly polls in Haryana scheduled for October and a Karnal Assembly bypoll set for 25 May, the political landscape remains uncertain. The governor is required to summon the House before 13 September, as the period between two assembly sessions cannot exceed six months.
The Saini-led BJP government, which took office in March after replacing former CM Manohar Lal Khattar, won the trust vote by voice vote shortly after Saini assumed office. The political maneuvering in Haryana continues as parties brace for the upcoming elections.