Haryana Political Drama: Khattar Quits as CM, BJP-JJP Coalition Ends

New Delhi: Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and his cabinet ministers resigned from the government on Tuesday. The move followed reports of the ruling BJP-JJP alliance falling apart on the issue of seat-sharing for the upcoming general elections. 

The Bharatiya Janata Party and Jannayak Janata Party of Dushyant Chautala were part of the ruling alliance, with 14 cabinet ministers, including three from the JJP.

As per reports, a new BJP government will take oath in the evening with a new CM face. The BJP claims it still has the majority in the Assembly, with 41 BJP and six independent MLAs supporting it. According to Indian Express, the swearing-in ceremony will take place after 4 p.m today. However, Haryana's now former education minister, Kanwar Pal, maintained that Khattar would remain CM, although there might be some changes in the cabinet.

According to Hindustan Times, BJP MLAs, including Khattar, are holding a meeting at Haryana Niwas to chalk out the formation of the new government. Haryana BJP-incharge Biplab Kumar Deb and Arjun Munda, Minister of Tribal Affairs and Minister of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare and party observer, are said to be present at the meeting with other BJP state leadership. 

On the other hand, the JJP, too, held a meeting in New Delhi on Tuesday after the coalition collapsed. However, five of its MLAs skipped the meeting, PTI reported.

In October 2019, the BJP and JJP formed a coalition government in the state after the former failed to cross the halfway mark of 45 in the 90-seat Assembly. JJP, with its 10 MLAs, joined BJP and bagged the Deputy CM post for Dushyant Singh Chautala. 

Even during the farmers' and later the wrestlers' protests, the JJP was under public pressure to reconsider the alliance. Both the protests were rooted in the Jat community, which is a crucial vote bank in the state. 

Meanwhile, Congress seems to be in 'wait and watch' mode for now in the face of rapid new developments. Party leader and former Haryana CM Bhupinder Hooda has denied any alliance with the JJP amidst the political chaos. Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, that “change is in the air...” and has attributed this 'chaos' to pressure from the farmers, youth and wrestlers.

With general and Assembly elections for Haryana just around the corner, the political drama unfolding in the state can be a challenge for the ruling party. Haryana sends 10 MPs to the Lok Sabha and has seen many protests recently against the party's policies and leaders, including the farmers and wrestlers protest, as also the new Agnipath scheme.