New Delhi: The BJP is set to return to power in Haryana after the Dushyant Chautala-led Jannayak Janta Party (JJP) extended support to the party late Friday night.
In a press conference in New Delhi, BJP president and Home Minister Amit Shah announced the alliance that will stake claim to power in the state Saturday.
“Accepting the mandate by the people of Haryana, leaders of both parties (BJP-JJP) have decided that BJP-JJP will form the govt together, in Haryana. CM will be from BJP & Deputy CM will be from JJP,” Shah said. He was flanked by Chautala and Manohar Lal Khattar.
According to the coalition arrangement, the JJP has been offered the deputy chief minister’s post in the state. Khattar will return as CM.
“We will meet the Governor tomorrow in Chandigarh to stake the claim to form the govt in state,” Khattar said at the press conference.
Chautala said his party’s aim was to provide a stable government in Haryana. “To give a stable govt to Haryana it was important for BJP & JJP to come together. I would like to thank Amit Shahji and Naddaji. Our party had decided that for the betterment of the state it is important to have a stable govt.”
The development comes a day after the Haryana assembly elections threw up a hung verdict with the BJP emerging as the single-largest party with 40 seats, six short of the majority. The Congress ended up with 31 seats while the JJP secured 10 constituencies in the 90-member assembly. The majority is 46.
The BJP had earlier contemplated cobbling together a coalition of Independents and smaller parties but faced flak after the controversial Haryana Lokhit Party chief Gopal Kanda offered his unconditional support. Kanda faces charges of abetment to suicide, forgery and fraud in the Geetika Sharma suicide case.
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The numbers will provide stability for a five year term. For a party of the Jats to be a coalition partner is a good development.