Chandigarh: The last session of the Haryana assembly before elections later this year kicked off Friday without a leader of the opposition, an impasse brought about by infighting in the Congress, currently the second-largest party in the house.
This is the first time the Haryana assembly will hold a session in the absence of a leader of the opposition, an important position whose incumbents are expected to keep the government in check.
However, with several claimants to the post within the Congress — former chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, leader of the legislative party Kiran Chaudhary, and AICC spokesperson Randeep Surjewala — the party has been unable to nominate anyone.
In the absence of a nominee, Chaudhary was asked to occupy the seat of the leader of the opposition Friday.
The assembly session, which ends Tuesday, is crucial as the Haryana government is expected to push through supplementary demands on the budget as well as some legislations drafted with an eye on the upcoming elections.
Given the strife among the Congress’ ranks and the virtual annihilation of the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD), the treasury benches are expecting a cakewalk.
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In disorder
The 2014 Haryana assembly election was won by the BJP with 47 of the state’s 90 seats. The INLD of the Chautalas finished second with 19 seats, while the Congress got 15.
The Congress became the main opposition party in the Haryana assembly only recently, after the INLD lost some of its MLAs to the rebel breakaway group, the Jannayak Janata Party (JJP) formed in the wake of a family feud among the Chautalas, and the BJP.
While two MLAs of the INLD have died, seven have joined the BJP. The INLD is thus reduced to 10 MLAs, of which four face disqualification for joining the JJP.
Of the Congress’ 15 MLAs, 13 have pledged their support to Hooda. The other four are Kuldeep Bishnoi, his wife Renuka Bishnoi, Surjewala and Chaudhary.
Chaudhary had earlier written to the speaker of the Vidhan Sabha to declare her the leader of the opposition. The speaker didn’t take a decision on the request since it wasn’t moved by the party.
Asked about the absence of an opposition leader, Haryana Congress chief Ashok Tanwar said at a press conference Thursday that any decision in this regard lay with the central brass and not him.
Karan Dalal, one of the MLAs from the Hooda camp, told ThePrint that no decision is likely to be taken during this session, adding that “things are going to remain as they were”.
He said the MLAs had written to the Congress high command to nominate a leader of the opposition, but there had been no response.
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Mr modi and India y are u scared to talk to kaptan to resolve situation to try to better things. Do Indians hate Pakistan so much hate muslims so much. Y don’t they let the Kashmir people have a say on there future y do they still want to dictate to them Y o BJP do u want war on a situation that could be resolved peacefully and with the will of the Kashmir people that are relevant in this peace plan. Narinder don’t play games sit with Pakistan don’t be scared both could resolve the situation it be good for both countries please give peace a chance muslims are human beings like Hindus and the Sikhs watch out ur next but always that community play double game which inthe long run is a disadvantage to them The most important thing that India forgets that kashmiris have trust in Allah and whatever happens will be inthe hands of Allah so inshallah give peace a chance.