JJP joins Congress in seeking Haryana floor test, but 3 of its own MLAs 'meet' Khattar

CHANDIGARH: Pressure mounted on the Nayab Singh Saini govt in Haryana Thursday to take a floor test, with JJP’s Dushyant Chautala closing ranks with Congress and INLD to write to governor Bandaru Dattatreya for his “intervention” against the backdrop of BJP’s refusal to acknowledge its loss of majority after three Independent MLAs withdrew support to the coalition.

Dushyant upped the ante amid murmurs of a rift in his ranks, including unconfirmed reports of a hush-hush meeting between three JJP MLAs and former CM Manohar Lal Khattar at minister Mahipal Dhanda’s residence in Panipat. Dhanda denied any such meeting was held, but sources said the JJP trio of Devender Babli (Tohana), Ramniwas Surjakhera (Narwana) and Jogi Ram Sihag (Barwala) weren’t the only ones creating room for BJP to manoeuvre itself out of a potentially tight spot. JJP had issued a show-cause to these three MLAs the previous day over alleged anti-party activities.

4 MLAs indicate may not follow JJP whip

Sihag and Surjakhera have been rooting for BJP’s Lok Sabha candidates at rallies, while another four of JJP’s 10 MLAs have indicated they might not fall in line despite Dushyant’s threat to act against anyone defying the party’s whip in the event of a floor test.

INLD joined Congress in calling for President’s rule if BJP fails to prove its majority in the House. The clamour for a floor test comes less than three months after BJP survived a no-confidence motion.

Saini maintained there was no threat to his govt despite the coalition being reduced to a minority with 43 MLAs, 40 of them from BJP. Two independents – Nayan Pal Rawat and Rakesh Daultabad – and Gopal Kanda of Haryana Lokhit Party (HLP) are still backing the govt. On paper, the opposition camp has 30 MLAs from Congress, 10 of JJP, INLD’s lone MLA and four Independents, including the three who bailed out two days ago.

Two seats are vacant since ex-CM Manohar Lal Khattar and Independent MLA Ranjit Singh Chautala resigned last March.

In its letter to the governor, Congress sought time for deputy leader of the opposition Aftab Ahmad and chief whip B Lok hit Batra to visit Raj Bhavan on Friday and submit a memorandum explaining why the govt needs to take a floor test.

Dushyant said JJP was open to backing any other political party other than BJP in forming a new govt. “It is evident that the incumbent no longer commands a majority in the legislative assembly,” he wrote. The former deputy CM requested the governor to invoke his constitutional prerogative in accordance with Article 174 and direct the appropriate authority to immediately call for a floor test.

INLD’s Abhay Chautala said CM Saini had “no legal and moral right to continue in office” after his govt was reduced to a minority. Article 174 confers on the governor the authority to summon, prorogue, and dissolve the assembly.

In a landmark case – S R Bommai vs Union of India – Supreme Court laid down the scope of a governor’s discretion in determining whether a particular govt has a majority. The apex court said the governor had a constitutional obligation to act judiciously and impartially in such matters and was authorised to call for a floor test if and when needed. A no-confidence motion, distinct from a trust vote, cannot be moved against any govt within six months of the previous one.