With Lok Sabha polls weeks away, the ever dynamic political equations in Haryana is likely to change with the regional parties—Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) and its splinter group Jannayak Janta party (JJP)–to play a key role in formation of new alliances.
While INLD and Bahujan Samaj party tie up is on the verge of a breakup after their humiliating defeat in Jind bypoll, the JJP is looking to form an alliance with Aam Aadmi Party or Bahujan Samaj Party.
In Jind bypoll, which was considered as the “semi-final” of 2019 general elections, the INLD’s candidate, Umed Singh, had finished at fifth spot and could secure only 3454 votes, losing his security deposit.
The INLD not only failed to retain its Jind Assembly seat, which it had won in 2009 and 2014 polls, but also ended up behind the candidates of BJP, JJP, Congress and Loktantra Suraksha Party in the bypoll.
On the other hand, the new entrant, JJP’s candidate, Digvijay Chautala, who is great grandson of former Deputy Prime Minister Chaudhary Devi Lal finished at second spot and got 3,7631 votes followed by Congress’ Randeep Singh Surjewala who secured 22740 votes.
A day after BSP supremo Mayawati hinted at breaking ties with the INLD in Haryana ahead of general elections, the BSP held a meeting in Rohtak to deliberate over the future of their alliance.
BSP’s Haryana in-charge, Meghraj, while talking to the mediapersons on Tuesday said that the split in INLD has affected the party and this was witnessed in the Jind bypoll. If the Chautala family does not come together, we will have to rethink about our alliance with the INLD. BSP supremo Mayawati will take a final call in this regard.”
Haryana BSP chief, Prakash, Bharti said that the INLD was united at the time of alliance with BSP in April 2018. But the split in INLD has affected the party’s performance. We will take a final call regarding our alliance soon, he said.
When asked whether the BSP will form an alliance with the JJP, Bharti said that BSP chief will take the final decision on an alliance with another party in Haryana.
The BSP had a day before issued a statement after its president Mayawati had met party leaders from Haryana and reviewed the party functioning in the State.
“The BSP chief was apprised of the inner conflicts in the Chautala family, which is harming the BSP poll prospects in the State. The BSP is thinking over contesting the future elections in alliance only after the (Chautala) family resolves its differences and come together or else the party will be forced to have a rethink on the matter,” the statement had stated.
Notably, the INLD, founded in October 1996 by Choudhary Devi Lal, had split last year following a power struggle between brothers Abhay Chautala and Ajay Chautala.
JJP, a breakaway faction of the INLD, was formed after INLD’s chief OP Chautala had expelled his three family members–his elder son Ajay Chautala and grandsons Hisar MP Dushyant Chautala and Digvijay Chautala from the party.
In absence of OP Chautala and Ajay Chautala, who are undergoing 10 years imprisonment after their conviction in JBT teachers’ scam in 2013, the Leader of opposition and INLD’s senior leader Abhay Chautala is steering the party while Dushyant is leading the JJP.
The INLD and BSP had entered into an alliance in April last year and had announced that both parties would jointly contest 2019 Lok Sabha and Haryana Assembly polls. The alliance was formed eyeing the consolidation of Jat and dalit vote bank in Haryana.
Both the parties had earlier tied up in 1998 Lok Sabha polls but they parted ways later.
Haryana has 10 Lok Sabha seats where seven seats were won by BJP, two by INLD and one by Congress in 2014 general election.