After Haryana delivered a hung verdict in the Assembly elections with the BJP emerging as the largest party but short of a majority, all the Independents have reportedly extended their support to the saffron party.
Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar earlier in the day met BJP Working President JP Nadda and BJP National General Secretary (Org) BL Santhosh at the former’s residence. The eight MLAs, who had won from their respective constituencies, were also reportedly present.
Haryana voted for a hung assembly but the results spurred up a few surprises. The Congress saw a surge in its performance, winning 31 seats in the 90-member Haryana Legislative Assembly. Dushyant Chautala led Debutant Jannayak Janta Party (JJP) won 10 seats. The Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) and the Haryana Lokhit Party (HLP) won a seat each, with Independent candidates winning seven.
Controversial politician Gopal Kanda, the chief of the Haryana Lokhit Party, who was reportedly among the MLAs flown to Delhi for a meeting with the BJP leadership Thursday evening, has claimed that all independent candidates have extended their unconditional support to the BJP.
Congress rebel, Ranjit Singh, who won from the Rania seat as an Independent candidate has said that he will support the Bharatiya Janata Party.
Another Independent candidate, Nayan Pal Rawat, who won from Prithala assembly constituency has also extended his support to BJP. Talking to media, he said he has met BJP Working President JP Nadda JP Nadda.
Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar is now expected to meet Governor Satyadev Narayan Arya to stake claim to form the government in the state for the second consecutive term.
Earlier in the day, Khattar said that he was confident of forming the government in Haryana once again.
The BJP, which had set itself a target of 75 seats in the 90-member Haryana Assembly, ended up with 40 seats and was forced to negotiate with independents to reach the majority mark of 46.