Following Congress’ comeback performance in the Assembly election, former Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda on Thursday said that the poll result is “against the BJP government”.
Further, in an open invitation, Hooda appealed to the other players in the state — JJP, INLD, and independents — to join hands with the Congress. “I appeal to all parties who got a mandate today, including INLD, JJP, BSP to unite with us.
He assured that everyone will be respected and given a respectable position in the government.
Hooda also warned against taking undue advantage of the independent candidates. “No one can take the rights of independents away. I’m warning those who are trying to take undue advantage of the independent candidates.”
The Congress also alleged that the Centre and state are trying to misuse the government machinery to convince and coerce independent candidates to join the BJP.
Meanwhile, the Jannayak Janata Party has emerged as the kingmaker in the state with both the Congress and the BJP reaching out to the party to help form the government in the case of a hung assembly.
However, JJP leader Dushyant Chautala has claimed that he has not been approached by either BJP or Congress, adding that he was not in touch with any party.
“I am not in touch with anyone. People, who were talking of 75 plus seats, and the Congress, which was very confident, both have received the reply of the people of Haryana,” he said in his first comments after emerging as the kingmaker.
“I want to congratulate the people of Haryana. I will be going to the counting centre. The party has called for a legislative members’ meeting and at 2 pm the national executive meeting will take place tomorrow. I will address a press conference in Delhi after that. We will have to wait for the national executive meet only then can decide on the further course of action,” Chautala further said.
Meanwhile, according to reports, Congress interim chief Sonia Gandhi has authorised former Haryana CM and veteran leader BS Hooda to speak with Dushyant Chautala.
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