THREE Independent MLAs on Tuesday withdrew support to the BJP Government in Haryana and announced they would back the Congress, reducing the Nayab Singh Saini Government to a minority in the State Assembly. The Government which has the support of two other Independents is now two short of the majority mark in the 90-member House which has a current strength of 88. In recent days, some Jannayak Janata Party MLAs have indicated support to the BJP though the JJP pulled out of the coalition government in March. The BJP has 40 MLAs, the Congress 30 and the JJP 10 in the House. Independent MLAs Sombir Sangwan (Dadri), Randhir Singh Gollen (Pundri) and Dharampal Gonder (Nilokheri) announced their decision at a press conference in Rohtak in the presence of Leader of the Opposition Bhupinder Singh Hooda and state Congress chief Udai Bhan.

 

“The Government should resign. President’s rule should be imposed in the state and elections held. This is an anti-people government,” Hooda said. The Congress said in a statement the three MLAs have already sent letters to the Governor saying they have withdrawn their support to the Government. At the presser, Gonder said, “We are withdrawing support to the government and have decided to extend support to the Congress. We have taken this decision due to various issues.” Speaking at the presser, Udai Bhan said, “The three Independent MLAs have extended their support to the Congress... The BJP government earlier had support of 10 JJP MLAs and Independents, but the JJP also withdrew support and now Independents are also leaving. “Nayab Singh Saini Government is now a minority government. Saini should tender his resignation as he does not have right to stay even for a minute,” the Congress leader said.

 

The assembly elections in Haryana are due in October. Hooda expressed his gratitude to the three MLAs for their support and said they have taken this decision keeping in mind the public sentiments. The leader of the opposition said there is a wave in favour of the Congress in the country including Haryana and that the Independent MLAs have taken this decision respecting the sentiments of people. He claimed people have made up their mind to form the Congress government in the state. At the presser, Gollen said, “We had given our support to the BJP government with honesty. But today unemployment is at its peak, and inflation and farmer issues are there. Every section of society is fed up. People are facing lot of issues with Parivar Pehchan Patra (family ID card) and property ID system.”