In a major embarrassment to the newly floated Jannayak Janata Party (JJP), Shiromani Akali Dal lone legislator in Haryana, Balkaur Singh on Tuesday claimed that he had never joined the JJP and still a member of SAD.
The development came two days after the JJP claimed that SAD’s MLA from Kalanwali (SC) seat in Sirsa district has joined the party.
Following his meeting with SAD patron Parkash Singh Badal on Tuesday here, Balkaur Singh denied having joined the party and said that he is a member of SAD.
Sources said that Balkaur Singh was asked to explain his position during the meeting with senior Badal.
During the meeting, the SAD lone legislator in Haryana reportedly denied having joined the party. Balkaur Singh claimed that JJP founder Ajay Chautala and other party leaders had come to meet him at his residence and handed over the party’s flag to him during their meeting on Sunday. Later, the media reported the matter wrongly that he had joined the JJP, he said.
While talking to a section of media, Balkaur on Tuesday said that he has not joined the JJP and only supported them as they were part of the INLD, an alliance partner of SAD earlier.
I felt hurt after knowing that false propaganda have been spread about my political affiliation. I am still the member of SAD and any decision related to an alliance with other political party will be taken by the SAD patron Parkash Singh Badal, the MLA said.
Balkaur had won the 2014 Assembly election with the support of SAD’s political alliance partner Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) from Kalanwali constituency.
Notably, the JJP had come into existence a month ago following a split in the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD), after a bitter power struggle between Ajay Chautala and Abhay Singh Chautala, the grandsons of Devi Lal who had founded the INLD.
According to a press release issued by the JJP on Sunday, it was claimed that Balkaur Singh, 49, joined the party in the presence of its founder Ajay Chautala at Kalanwali town. The JJP had claimed that Kalanwali Municipal Committee’s president Sonu and Singh’s other supporters have also joined the new political outfit.
The press release while quoting Balkaur Singh had stated, “ I have always been follower of the policies of Chaudhary Devi Lal. In the current scenario, Ajay Chautala and his son Dushyant Chautala are following his principles in true sense which has inspired me to join the JJP.”
In the 90-member Haryana Assembly, Balkaur is the lone SAD legislator and is used to support the INLD on various issues.
Ajay Chautala had on Sunday claimed that there is a growing public support in JJP's favour and more prominent people would be joining the outfit in the upcoming days.
Ajay Chautala, who is serving a 10-year jail term in connection with a teacher recruitment scam in Haryana, is currently out on parole.