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Journalism of Courage
FURTHER WORSENING problems for the BJP government in Haryana, after three Independent MLAs withdrew their support to it, its former ally Jannayak Janta Party (JJP) announced that it would support any Congress move to topple the government. The developments come ahead of the Lok Sabha polls to all 10 seats in the state on May 25, with Assembly elections to follow towards the end of the year. The BJP insists its government led by Chief Minister Nayab Saini is intact.
The five reasons for its confidence:
The Congress led by Bhupinder Singh Hooda moved a no-confidence motion against the Saini government as recently as March 13. CM Saini won it with a voice vote.
With the JJP’s 10 MLAs having parted ways, the BJP had 41 MLAs at the time, along with six Independent MLAs and one MLA of the Haryana Lokhit Party (HLP) backing it, putting its numbers at 48 in a House of 90. The Congress had 30 MLAs, the INLD one, while one Independent, Balraj Kundu, who has remained non-committal all through the ups and downs in Haryana, abstained. After the JJP issued a whip, none of its MLAs voted, helping the BJP easily win.
As per rules, a no-confidence motion cannot be moved within six months of a previous one. Asked about this, Hooda agreed that the motion could not be moved at this point, but asserted that “the Chief Minister should resign on moral grounds, as his government has lost majority”.
Today, the strength of the House is 88, after Manohar Lal Khattar and Ranjit Singh resigned from their respective Assembly segments of Karnal and Rania to become the BJP’s Lok Sabha candidates from Karnal and Hisar, respectively.
At current strength, the BJP needs 45 votes for a majority. With Khattar’s resignation, it has 40 MLAs, plus the support of two Independents and the HLP MLA, taking its total to 43. The BJP has also claimed the support of three of the JJP’s 10 MLAs, who have distanced themselves from Dushyant Chautala and been served notice for “anti-party activities”. Counting the three, the BJP government has the support of 46 MLAs, just 1 more than a simple majority. Even if they get disqualified for defection, the House strength will come down to 85, and the majority mark to 43. The BJP has 43 as of now.
But the Congress has claimed that several other MLAs are in touch with it. As has the BJP.
It will first have to seek an appointment with the Governor to stake claim to form the government. The Congress, given it is the largest Opposition party, has to do it but is yet to initiate such a move. On Wednesday, while offering his support to the Congress should it make such a move, Dushyant said, “It’s up to Leader of the Opposition Hooda to make the move to topple the government.”
Hooda told The Indian Express that Dushyant too could take the initiative. “He is saying these things after staying in the BJP-led government for four-and-a-half years. If he isn’t the BJP’s B-Team, he should meet the Governor and parade his 10 MLAs, and then I shall send ours to the Raj Bhavan, led by MLA Bharat Bhushan Batra.”
Even if both the Congress and JJP meet the Governor and parade their respective MLAs to stake a claim, there is no guarantee regarding what the Governor will do. Even if the Governor directs the state government to prove its majority within a specific time period, the possibility that some JJP MLAs would either defect or abstain from voting remains high. In other words, the BJP may again be able to prove its majority.
Plus, the Congress’s whole focus now is the Lok Sabha polls, due on May 25. The BJP currently holds all 10 seats, and is campaigning intensely to retain them.
The Haryana Assembly elections are not so far away either, scheduled for October. There is a possibility that once the Lok Sabha polls are over, the Opposition may press the issue again to mount pressure on the BJP ahead of the Vidhan Sabha polls.
Haryana BJP leaders are confident their government is “intact”, and that if the need arises, “other MLAs will support us”. Khattar told mediapersons, “The Congress and JJP shouldn’t worry about us. Instead, they should first set their own houses in order. There is no threat to our government. It will continue to serve the people. We shall win an absolute majority in the next Assembly elections, so that such a situation never arises again.”
Vidhan Sabha Speaker Gian Chand Gupta said, “Officially, I have not received any intimation from any MLA. It is only in the media that there are reports that three Independent MLAs have decided to support the Congress. Usually, when a no-confidence motion is moved, the next one can only be moved after six months, although the Governor, as a constitutional authority, can take any decision as and when the need arises. If he gives us any directions, we will follow those.”
Former home minister Anil Vij, who has been angry with the BJP since it replaced Khattar with Saini and he did not find place in the government, said, “I’m saddened that the Independent MLAs have withdrawn their support today, but Hooda Sahib’s wish will never be fulfilled, as we have many arrows in our quiver.”
Even if the BJP government survives, the fact that MLAs are leaving it for the Opposition may strengthen the public perception that the pendulum is swinging towards the Congress.
