Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar resigns amid BJP-JJP discord over Lok Sabha seats

PTC News Desk: Haryana's political landscape witnessed a seismic shift as Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar tendered his resignation on Tuesday, mere days before the looming Lok Sabha elections. According to sources disclosed to News18, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is eyeing Nayab Saini or Sanjay Bhatia as potential successors for the CM post.

Against the backdrop of escalating tensions between the BJP and its ally, the Jananayak Janata Party (JJP), the BJP had slated a legislative party meeting for 11:30 am in Chandigarh. Simultaneously, Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala convened a gathering of the JJP in Delhi.

Reports emerged suggesting a splintering within the JJP ranks, with a faction of MLAs purportedly maintaining contact with the BJP and skipping Chautala's assembly. It is believed that at least four JJP MLAs are engaging with the BJP, signaling a potential realignment of political allegiances.

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Earlier indications pointed towards a brewing discord between the BJP and the JJP following Chautala's meeting with BJP's national president JP Nadda to negotiate seat-sharing arrangements for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Chautala had also reportedly sought an audience with Amit Shah, although Khattar's cabinet resigned before this speculated meeting could materialize. Sources intimate that Chautala's primary contention revolved around securing a share of Lok Sabha seats, a demand that the BJP appeared unwilling to concede.

The relationship between the BJP and the Chautala-led JJP soured further as talks faltered over a seat-sharing agreement in Haryana for the impending Lok Sabha polls. Notably, in the 2019 polls, the BJP swept all 10 Lok Sabha seats in the state, setting the stage for heightened tensions and intricate political maneuvering ahead of the upcoming electoral fray.

Analysing the BJP's political standing in Haryana:

The political landscape in Haryana is poised for significant upheaval, not just with the impending Lok Sabha elections likely to be held within the next couple of months, but also with the term of the state legislative assembly set to culminate on November 3, paving the way for assembly elections, anticipated in October.

Reflecting on the previous electoral outcomes, it's evident that in 2019, the BJP fell short of securing an outright majority. Consequently, it formed a coalition government with Dushyant Chautala's Jannayak Janata Party (JJP).

The Haryana legislative assembly comprises 90 members, necessitating 46 seats for a majority. Presently, the BJP holds 41 MLAs within its ranks. However, the party fortifies its position with support from six independent MLAs. Furthermore, Gopal Kanda's Haryana Lokhit Party is another ally extending support to the BJP's political agenda.

As the state braces for the upcoming electoral showdown, these numerical dynamics underscore the criticality of alliances and coalition-building strategies for the BJP to consolidate its grip on power in Haryana.

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(Inputs from agencies)