All JJP rebels find home now in other parties, barring one

Devender Babli, who could not get a ticket promise from Congress, joins BJP; Ram Niwas Surjakhera’s move stalled after rape allegations surface against him.

Ram Niwas Surjakhera close aide told The Indian Express that the former MLA will now make his next move only after “getting a clean chit” in the case. (Facebook)

Only one of the rebel leaders who left the Dushyant Chautala-led Jannayak Janata Party (JJP) after its bitter break-up with the BJP has not found home in another party now. On Monday, Devendra Singh Babli joined the BJP.

Of his 10 MLAs, Dushyant is now left with just three, including him and his mother Naina Chautala. Barring ex-Narwana MLA Ram Niwas Surjakhera, the others are either in the Congress or BJP, with Surjakhera’s chances dwindling following allegations of rape surfacing against him.

Surajkhera, along with Anoop Dhanak, Jogiram Sihag and Ram Kumar Gautam, was expected to join the BJP Sunday, before the charges became public. His close aide told The Indian Express that the former MLA will now make his next move only after “getting a clean chit” in the case.

Story continues below this ad

Denying the allegations, Surjakhera said he never thought politics could “stoop to such low levels”. “It is painful that an attempt has been made to weaken me ahead of the polls.”

Haryana votes in a single phase on October 5, the results of which will be announced on October 8.

A first-time legislator, Surjakhera had been at loggerheads with the JJP and Dushyant over the past two years over the party’s functioning. Despite the setback, his close aides say he is still keen on joining the BJP.

Also read | JJP rebels who defied whip, sitting on the fence: One of Haryana’s richest MLAs to Dushyant’s detractors

Babli, the ex-Tohana MLA, claimed till Sunday to be undecided about his next move. On Monday, he joined the BJP in the presence of party national secretary Arun Singh. “The BJP has honoured the sentiments of Tohana’s people. I will contest the election from Tohana if the party fields me. The BJP-led government has delivered during the past five years and will return to power for the third time,” Babli told The Indian Express.

Story continues below this ad

Initially keen on joining the Congress, Babli had extended “tactical support” to the party in the Sirsa Lok Sabha election. Sources said he finally went with the BJP after failing to get an assurance from the Congress for a ticket from Tohana. “He (Babli) had met me but I made it clear that he could not be accommodated. He is not even a Congress member. But I told him he can try and approach the state Congress chief (Udai Bhan),” AICC incharge for Haryana Deepak Babaria said.

Former Minister Paramvir Singh, his brother Randhir Singh, Khap leader Sube Singh Samain and ex-JJP MLA Sardar Nishan Singh, who joined the party in April, are also said to be eyeing the seat.

Babli, the only JJP Cabinet minister apart from Dushyant in the Khattar government, was among the four JJP MLAs who attended the swearing-in ceremony of Nayab Singh Saini as the new BJP Chief Minister.

Apart from Dushyant (the Uchana Kalan MLA), Naina Chautala (Badhra), the only MLA now left with the JJP is Amarjeet Singh Dhanda (Julana).