Haryana CM Khattar and Cabinet tender resignation after cracks appear in JJP-BJP alliance

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and his entire Cabinet tendered their resignation to Governor Bandaru Dattatreya today with the alliance between Jannayak Janta Party (JJP) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the state on the verge of a split, PTI reported citing sources.

Sources have told ET that at least five JJP MLAs are likely to defect to the BJP.

When asked who will become the next CM of the state, Haryana BJP leader Kanwar Pal Gujjar said, "Bilkul thik hain, CM sahab hi CM sahab rahenge."


Independent MLA Nayan Pal Rawat on Tuesday claimed that the alliance is at break point but some independent MLAs who support the ML Khattar government will ensure its survival.

"I met the Chief Minister yesterday. We have already extended our support to CM Manohar Lal-led government. We also discussed the strategy for the Lok Sabha elections. I got the impression that the process of breaking the alliance with JJP has already started," ANI quoted Rawat as saying on Tuesday after his meeting with the Chief Minister.

On March 10, Brijendra Singh, the former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP from Haryana's Hisar joined the Congress after resigning from the ruling party.

Assembly elections were last held in the state in October 2019 where the BJP fell short of a simple majority winning 40 of the 90 assembly seats and later forged a post-poll alliance with the JJP, which has 10 MLAs. JJP President and co-founder Dushyant Chautala was named the Deputy Chief Minister.

Chautala on March 11 held seat-sharing talks with BJP chief JP Nadda. BJP had bagged all ten Lok Sabha seats during the 2019 General Elections. Sources told ET that the BJP's Haryana leadership was not in favour of leaving any seat for its ally JJP in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Sources told ET that JJP was demanding two Lok Sabha seats.

(With agency inputs)