Another Independent MLA may withdraw support to Haryana's BJP govt

Pradeep Sharma

Chandigarh, July 17

Miffed at the working of the Nayab Singh Saini-led BJP government, another Independent MLA from Prithla, Nayan Pal Rawat, is likely to withdraw support to the government. However, there is no immediate threat to the BJP government.

Rawat, who is supporting the BJP government from outside, is reportedly not happy with the working of the state government, especially the bureaucracy. He has gone on record alleging that the administrative officials were in league with the opposition parties.

No immediate threat to Saini govt

In the House of 90, with an effective strength of 86, the BJP has 41 MLAs, the Congress 28, the JJP 10 and the INLD one. The BJP, with 41 MLAs, enjoys the support of the lone Haryana Lokhit Party MLA and two of the JJP MLAs, who have openly supported it.

Rawat exploring political options

Nayan Pal Rawat, ex-BJP leader, who won as an Independent from Prithla Assembly segment in 2019, is exploring options in the Congress, INLD-BSP alliance, the JJP and AAP. He is unlikely to be taken back in the BJP.

When contacted, Rawat, while refusing to comment on the withdrawal of support to the BJP government, asserted that he would announce his future course of action tomorrow.

However, sources said Rawat was exploring political options in the run-up to the Assembly elections. A former BJP leader, Rawat won the 2019 Assembly elections from Prithla as an Independent candidate. He was expelled from the party for anti-party activities for a period of six years.

The BJP, the sources said, was unlikely to take him back.The other options for him are the Congress INLD-BSP alliance, JJP and AAP.

The three MLAs — Sombir Sangwan (Charkhi Dadri), Randhir Golan (Pundri), and Dharampal Gondar (Nilokheri) — had withdrawn support to the government and extended support to the Congress in the Lok Sabha elections.

In the House of 90, with an effective strength of 86, the BJP has 41 MLAs, the Congress has 28, the JJP has 10 and the INLD 1. The BJP, with 41 MLAs currently in the Assembly, enjoys the support of the lone MLA of the Haryana Lokhit Party while two of the JJP MLAs have openly supported it.

Kiran Chaudhry, one of the Congress MLAs, had recently switched to the BJP. The Congress’ petition for the disqualification of Chaudhry was recently rejected by Speaker Gian Chand Gupta on ‘technical grounds’.

The JJP has also petitioned the Speaker to disqualify two of its MLAs for ‘anti-party’ activities.