Amid the fast-moving changes in Haryana, an old hand: Bhupinder Singh Hooda

However, word got out, and only three made it to the Rohtak press conference led by Hooda, and announced they had switched sides.

One more, and the Nayab Singh Saini-led government could have found itself short of a majority. Right now, with 40 BJP MLAs, two Independents and one Haryana Lokhit Party legislator backing it, the Saini government has a strength of 43, plus claims support of four Jannayak Janata Party (JJP) MLAs, in a House whose effective strength is 88. Even if the JJP moves for the disqualification of these four, the BJP would still make the majority mark of 43, in a House with its strength reduced to 84.

Sources said that the game was not over yet and Hooda was still in touch with other Independent MLAs and the JJP’s 10 MLAs, whose loyalties to Dushyant Chautala are suspect.

One of the Independent MLAs now with the Congress, Sombir Sangwan, told The Indian Express: “Wait till June 4… As soon as the Lok Sabha election results are out, many BJP MLAs will also be ready to shift sides.”

Even if the Saini government survives, the Assembly elections are less than five months away and Hooda has successfully sent out the impression that “there is an environment in favour of the Congress in the state”, a leader pointed out. “Independent MLAs go to an opposition party only when they think that a change of government is certain,” says Sampat Singh, a Congress leader and a six-time former MLA.

Congress sources said that the three Independent MLAs who have announced support to the party would be considered for Congress tickets from their constituencies. Sangwan indicated he would be more than glad to get one: “If the Congress gives a ticket, I will accept it and contest.”

Congress supporters also pointed out that apart from adding to the party numbers (the Congress has 30 MLAs in the House), the Independents bring with them the support of different caste groups. While Sangwan is a Jat, Dharampal Gondher belongs to a Scheduled Caste, and Randhir Golan comes from the Ror community.

At a personal level, the development consolidates Hooda’s position as the foremost Congress leader in Haryana, after having already managed to get the lion’s share in the distribution of tickets for the Lok Sabha elections. For nearly a year, rivals Kumari Selja, Randeep Surjewala and Kiran Choudhry have been trying to outsmart Hooda, having joined hands for the purpose.

What Hooda perhaps did not account for was the statement by JJP leader Dushyant Chautala, former BJP ally and ex-deputy CM, on Wednesday that he was ready to support the Congress if Hooda initiated a move to topple the state government. On Thursday, Dushyant shot off a letter to the Governor seeking a floor test.

Implying that the JJP is “the BJP’s B-team”, Hooda had replied to Chautala’s statement saying that he should parade his MLAs before the Governor if he is so keen to topple the government, and that he would do the same then for the Congress. Privately, Hooda’s supporters said they were apprehensive that Chautala’s “game plan” was “to “divide the votes of Opposition”. And that Hooda would rather have President’s rule than try forming a government for the few months left before the elections if such a scenario emerges.