Several turncoats and rebels dented the ruling BJP's chances of getting a clear majority in Haryana as results of the Assembly polls were declared on October 24.
Weeks ahead of the October 21 polls, several leaders, mostly sitting MLAs of the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) had joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
And at the time of ticket distribution, the top BJP leadership preferred the turncoats over its loyal workers.
As a result, several miffed workers rebelled and entered the fray as independents which dented the traditional vote bank of the BJP and helped opposition parties like the Jannayak Janata Party (JJP) and the Congress immensely.
The BJP denied tickets to 12 of its sitting legislators.
On the Rewari seat, sitting BJP MLA Randhir Kapri fought as an independent, however, neither he nor the BJP candidate-- Sunil Musepur could win the seat and it went into the kitty of the Congress.
Among other rebels, Sombir, who had unsuccessfully fought the 2014 polls as a BJP candidate, contested as an independent from Dadri and won. The BJP had fielded wrestler-turned-politician Babita Phogat from the seat.
From Prithla segment, BJP rebel Nayan Pal Rawat won as an Independent while in Meham too, former BJP leader won the election by defeating Congress rival and sitting MLA Anand Singh Dangi.
Adding to the woes of the BJP, many of the turncoats received a major drubbing on several seats.
Satish Nandal, former district president of the INLD, who joined the BJP recently, lost by a huge margin to sitting MLA and Congress' senior leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda from Garhi Sampla-Kiloi.
Former INLD leaders Parminder Singh Dhull and Bachan Singh Arya too lost from Julana and Safidon respectively.
BJP President Amit Shah:
We accept the mandate by the people of Haryana. The leaders of both parties (BJP-JJP) have decided that BJP-JJP will form the govt together, in Haryana. The Chief Minister will be from the BJP, and the Deputy CM will be from JJP.
JJP leader Dushyant Chautala:
Till now we haven't spoken to anybody on government formation, as national executive was not clear on the agenda. Now we've been authorised,we'll talk to concerned people.Hopefully in few hrs or few days we'll have positive result.
JJP leader Dushyant Chautala:
The party which will agree to our Common Minimum Program under which we had taken the resolution of 75% jobs reservation for Haryanvis, and that of Chaudhary Devi Lal's idea of old age pension, JJP will give its support to that party. We have not reached out to anyone for government formation.
Jannayak Janta Party (JJP) leader Dushyant Chautala:
No talks have been done on government so far. We will back a common minimum programme.
Jannayak Janta Party (JJP) leader Dushyant Chautala:
In the legislative party meet today, a resolution was passed that I will be the leader of the legislative party.
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JJP leader Dushyant Chautala is addressing a press conference.
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Senior BJP leader Uma Bharti disapproves of Haryana Lokhit Party leader Gopal Kanda's support to form government in Haryana. The Sirsa MLA has offered support to the BJP. (ANI)
BJP using allurements of money and power to form 'illegitimate' govt: Cong
Declaring that the people of Haryana have rejected the BJP, Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala has accused the saffron party of using allurements of money and power to get a majority and said a government formed through such means would be "illegitimate".
"They (the BJP) have no right to form a government. Defections are coming to play with allurements of money and power and of positions in government being the sole criteria for forming a government in Haryana," he alleged. (PTI)
Nayan Pal Rawat, Independent Haryana MLA:
It's the right of the CM and party leadership to make someone a minister. Everyone has ambitions. I have ambitions and willpower. I wish that I get adjusted somewhere so that the development of people in my area is done in a proper manner.
Update:
All India Mahila Congress presidentSushmita Dev writes to Home Minister and BJP President Amit Shah over Haryana MLA Gopal Kanda giving his support to BJP to form govt in Haryana. In her letter she states "...the accused of Geetika Sharma case is giving his support to BJP..."
Dev, in her letter, states, "Gopal Kanda has been accused of rape, abetment of suicide, hatching a criminal conspiracy in connection with the suicide case. Forging an alliance with a criminal like him raises a question on BJP's resolution of providing security to women."
BREAKING:
Manohar Lal Khattar set to take oath as chief minister tomorrow, News18 reports.
Independent Winning Candidate Randhir Golan:
I was a BJP worker for 30 years. I was in BJP, where did I go? BJP is my mother.
Jannayak Janta Party (JJP) leader Dushyant Chautala shows victory sign at party's MLAs meeting. JJP's national executive meeting is scheduled to be held in Delhi today.
(Image: ANI)
Haryana Lokhit Party leader Gopal Kanda, winning candidate from Sirsa assembly constituency told ANI: All independent candidates have extended their support to BJP.
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Nayan Pal Rawat, Independent candidate from Haryana's Prithala assembly constituency: I extend my support to Bharatiya Jananta Party (BJP). I have met JP Nadda Ji. (ANI)
CM Manohar Lal Khattar meets BJP working president JP Nadda in Delhi.
(Image: ANI)
Dushyant Chautala to meet MLAs, father in Tihar
Jannayak Janta Party (JJP) leader Dushyant Chautala, who has emerged as a kingmaker in Haryana, will meet his 10 legislators today at his residence in New Delhi to decide on the future course of the party.
He will also reportedly meet his father Ajay Chautala, who is currently lodged in Tihar Jail, before taking a final decision on the future course of action.
HPCC President Kumari Selja:
I don't know what the delay in JJP’s decision is. Voters have voted against BJP and they will not like any party or candidate supporting BJP. JJP's party line was also against BJP. Like-minded parties should be together. (CNN News18)
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Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar arrives at the residence of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)working president JP Nadda.
Ranjit Singh,
independent candidate from Rania constituency, at Haryana Bhawan in Delhi: I have openly said that I extend my support to the BJP. (ANI)
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Haryana CM Manohar LalKhattar arrives at Haryana Bhawan in Delhi; He will hold a meeting with BJP Working President JP Nadda and BJP Haryana In-charge Anil Jain today.
DS Hooda,Congress:
Independent MLAs who are going to be a part of the Khattar government are digging their own political grave. They are selling the trust of people. People of Haryana will never forgive those who do so. People will thrash them with shoes. (ANI)
Sardar Nishant Singh, Haryana JJP president:
We have invitation from both the sides. We'll take our decision only after discussing with our elected candidates. If there is no clear majority for BJP, obviously the mandate is against them. We will decide our stand after the meeting. (ANI)
Jannayak Janata Party (JJP) to hold MLAs meeting and national executive meeting today. (ANI)
BJP likely to stake claim for another term
CM Manohar Lal Khattar will be meeting the party's senior leadership today and discuss the way forward in the wake of the BJP needing support of a few MLAs to form the government.
The party has the option either to take support of the Independents alone or approach the JJP or both. Sources told PTI said all these things will be thoroughly discussed when Khattar meets senior party leaders. The sources said the BJP is likely to stake claim for another term in the state.
Will learn from results: Haryana BJP chief Subhash Barala
Haryana Bharatiya Janata Party President Subhash Barala: People have given a mandate to BJP. However, we will introspect on why did the party get 7 seats less this time. Both the party and I will learn from results of these elections. We'll take steps to strengthen the party in the state. Independent candidates have come with BJP. The government will be formed under the leadership of ML Khattar Ji. He is coming to Delhi today to hold discussions. (ANI)
Just In |
Dushyant Chautala to do press conference at 4 pm today. (CNN News18)
JUST IN |
Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar to hold a meeting with BJP Working President JP Nadda and party's Haryana In-charge Anil Jain today. (ANI)
Haryana Assembly poll - Final tally
BJP 40
Congress 31
JJP 10
Independents 7
Others 2
Congress keeps post-poll options open in Haryana
The Congress is adopting a wait-and-watch approach and has kept its post-poll options open in Haryana after the BJP failed to get a majority on its own in a hung verdict.
Sources said the Congress is seeking to woo all other non-BJP parties and its leaders have appealed to them to come together in a bid to stop the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) from retaining power in the state. (PTI)
Haryana verdict a moral defeat for BJP: Congress
The Congress vote share is up nearly eight percentage points in this Haryana Assembly polls than2014. For the state's main opposition party, hit by infighting that required a change in the state leadership ahead of the October 21 election, the results gave it a shot at power if the JJP extends support.
In Delhi, Congress spokesperson Anand Sharma claimed that the Haryana verdict is a moral defeat for the BJP and what they stand for".
The BJP's final tally came as a disappointment for a party that had won all 10 parliamentary seats in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, and predicted that it will cross 75 seats this time in the assembly. In the polls, eight of 10 ministers fielded by the BJP lost.
In the Lok Sabha polls, the BJP cornered 58 percent of the vote share, which has now dropped to about 36.5 percent.
Despite the loss of seats, this is still about three percentage points more than what the party got in the 2014 assembly polls -- a point stressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi when he spoke later to party workers in Delhi.
Haryana gets hung assembly, BJP needs six more to form government
Haryana has ended up with a hung assembly with the ruling BJP emerging as the largest party with 40 seats, but still six short of the halfway mark needed to form the next government.
The Congress won 31 seats, the Jannayak Janta Party 10, the Indian National Lok Dal and Haryana Lokhit Party one each. The Aam Aadmi Party, which contested 46 seats, was decimated.