Haryana CM keeps suspense up on ties with JJP, says all up to party state in-charge
Amid indications that the ruling BJP-JJP alliance in Haryana is on the verge of snapping, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar Saturday dodged questions by seeking to pass the buck to the BJP Haryana in-charge, Biplab Deb. “It is for the state party affairs in-charge to decide on our future course of action and the party’s interest, keeping the forthcoming polls in mind,” he said, adding: “As of today, the BJP-JJP alliance exists.”
Addressing a press conference on Saturday, a day after Deb came bearing tidings of his meetings with four Independent MLAs and Haryana Lokhit Party MLA Gopal Kanda, Khattar pointed out that the two parties did not start out as allies, and only joined hands after the 2019 elections. “The alliance [with the JJP] was forged in the interest of the people. There was no party with a majority, so an understanding was made. The JJP came on board. Independent MLAs also supported us. The Congress only has 30 MLAs. Barring a couple of others, the rest are all with us.”
However, he added: “What happens now is for our party affairs in-charge to decide, in the interest of the party. Only he can explain the reasons behind his meeting people… Yes, he [Deb] met me, but we discussed other issues.”
Since the last reports came out, Deb has met another Independent MLA, Ranjit Singh, who is a minister in the Khattar government. Vidhan Sabha Speaker Gian Chand Gupta was present at the meeting that lasted for about 45 minutes.
After the meeting, Ranjit Singh said, “The meeting was mainly about my adjustment with the BJP. As far as the BJP-JJP alliance is concerned, the decision shall be taken by Delhi [the BJP high command]. There was no discussion with me on their alliance.”
NEWS SOURCE: indianexpress.com
