Haryana BJP government in trouble? How numbers stack up after 3 Independents withdraw support

Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini addressing reporters a day after 3 Independents withdrew support

The BJP government in Haryana is teetering on the edge after three Independent MLAs on Tuesday withdrew their support and said they would back Congress.

MLAs Sombir Sangwan (Dadri), Randhir Singh Gollen (Pundri) and Dharampal Gonder (Nilokheri) on Tuesday said they will no longer support the BJP government, citing reasons like farmer issues, inflation and unemployment.

The move, which comes weeks after BJP and its ally Jannayak Janta Party (JJP) parted ways in the state, has reduced the Nayab Singh Saini government to a minority in the state assembly.

However, Haryana chief minister Nayab Singh Saini on Wednesday put up a brave face and asserted that his government is not in trouble. "The government is not in any trouble, it is working strongly," Saini told reporters in Sirsa when asked to comment on the withdrawal of support.

Earlier, state parliamentary affairs minister Kanwar Pal Gujjar also said dismissed any immediate threat to the Saini government.

How the numbers stack up in Haryana

Currently, the BJP has 40 MLAs in the 90-member assembly while the Congress and JJP have 30 and 10 MLAs respectively.

The BJP government also has the support of two other Independents, which takes its total strength to 42.

The current stength of the Haryana assembly is 88, which means the BJP is 3 short of the majority mark.

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.

According to reports, there are more unhappy MLAs in the Dushyant Chautala-led JJP, which may bolster BJP's chances in the event of a floor test.

Does Congress have the numbers?

While Congress only has 30 MLAs in the house, it has now recevied the support of three Independents, taking the strength to 33.

If it gets the support from JJP, the number will go up to 43. In that event, it will need the support of two other MLAs - who are Gopal Kanda from Haryana Lokhit Party and an MLA from INLD.

What's next in Haryana?

On Wednesday, the Congress sought the imposition of President's Rule in Haryana and called for fresh polls.

The party said it would write to Haryana governor Bandaru Dattatreya to demand that the BJP government be dismissed.

It also asked the JJP, the INLD and Independent MLA Balraj Kundu to write similar letters to the governor to give credence to their claim of opposing the BJP.

Haryana assembly speaker Gian Chand Gupta told ANI that he has not received any official information from the governor so far.

"I have not received any official information so far...We have not received it yet...Once the Governor's communication comes to us, decision will be taken as per the situation," he said.

(With inputs from agencies)