A meeting between Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal and Indian National Lok Dal secretary general Abhay Chautala on Monday triggered speculations that the saffron party may join hands with the regional party to defeat a common enemy-Congress-in the state in the ensuing Lok Sabha polls.
Abhay Chautala, who was recently removed as the Leader of Opposition in the Haryana Assembly, was accompanied by state party president Ashok Arora during the meeting with Chief Minister Manohar Lal at New Delhi.
After the meeting which lasted for about half an hour, Chautala cited personal reasons for meeting the Chief Minister. Though political meanings are being drawn out of this meeting, Chautala maintained that there was no discussion of any alliance with the BJP.
The BJP has already announced their eight candidates in Haryana and the INLD will also announce its 10 candidates for the polls soon, he asserted.
Chief Minister Manohar Lal also maintained that no talks related to an alliance were held during the meeting.
The INLD has been battling a crisis of existence following its split and formation of Jannayak Janta Party last year. The exodus of party’s MLAs and senior leaders continues and its cadre is also eroding fast.
The INLD chief and former Chief Minister Om Parkash Chautala had earlier attempted to forge an alliance with the BJP for Lok Sabha polls but the saffron party had rejected the offer.
The ruling BJP has already announced candidates on eight seats out of 10 Lok Sabha seats in the state. However, the BJP is treading cautiously in finalizing the name of candidates for Hisar and Rohtak Lok Sabha seats, which it had lost in 2014 parliamentary polls.
While Congress’ three-time MP Deepender Singh Hooda represents Rohtak constituency, Jannayak Janta Party leader and MP Dushyant Chautala represents Hisar Lok Sabha seat.
Both the young MPs are seen as strong contenders in Lok Sabha polls and the BJP faces a tough challenge to wrest these two Jat-dominated seats against them.
Rohtak, a Congress bastion was the only seat lost by the BJP in 2014 polls, the other two being lost by its alliance partner-Haryana Janhit Congress-at that time.
Meanwhile, the INLD is yet to announce candidates for Lok Sabha polls and is keen to retain its Sirsa and Hisar seats won by it in 2014 Lok Sabha polls.
After Monday’s meeting between Chief Minister Manohar Lal and top INLD leaders, speculations are rife that the two parties may come together for atleast two seats i.e. Rohtak and Hisar. While the BJP is looking to register victory on these two Lok Sabha seats, the INLD is desperate to defeat JJP leader Dushyant Chautala to secure its political future.
Dushyant, who had contested the 2014 polls on an INLD’s ticket, is likely to contest from Hisar seat again on JJP’s ticket. JJP’s candidate had finished at second spot in crucial Jind bypoll and the rise in popularity of fledgling political outfit poses a major threat to the INLD’s political future, both parties being formed by the Chautala family.
Taking a jibe at the INLD, JJP leader Dushyant Chautala on Monday said that the meeting indicates a complete political surrender by the INLD. While the BJP has already announced eight party candidates, the INLD is holding talks with them. Given the current circumstances, I think it will be a merger of INLD with the BJP rather than an alliance in Haryana now, he added.
Political observers were also quick to state that the meeting between CM Manohar Lal and Abhay Chautala is signaling towards an interesting political equation that the INLD still wants to stitch ties with the BJP.
Though the alliance seems unlikely as the BJP has already announced its eight candidates, the INLD may extend support to BJP candidates at a few seats. The INLD is fighting for its political survival this time. However, it remains to be seen how the two parties work out their pre-poll alliance if they decides to come together to take on Congress and JJP, say political analysts.
After Mayawati led Bahujan Samaj Party had broken ties with the INLD, the latter has been looking for an alliance partner to contest the Lok Sabha polls, slated to be held on May 12 in Haryana.
Out of power for over 14 years in Haryana, the INLD is attempting to revive its waning fortunes and also banking on the outcome of parole plea of its party chief OP Chautala. The senior Chautala, who is serving a 10-year jail term in teachers’ recruitment scam case, has sought parole before the Delhi High Court, which will hear the case on April 12.