BJP-JJP split in Haryana; suspense on next move as CM Khattar resigns

Chandigarh: Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and his cabinet ministers on Tuesday submitted their resignations to Haryana Governor Bandaru Dattatreya, sources said.

The development came amid speculation of cracks emerging in the state's ruling BJP and Jannayak Janata Party (JJP) coalition over seat sharing ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.

The cabinet comprised 14 ministers, including Khattar and three members of the Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala-led JJP. All have resigned.

A new cabinet is likely to be sworn in at the oath taking ceremony to be held at the governor's residence later in the day, the sources said.

The BJP has called a meeting of its MLAs at Haryana Niwas. However, there was no official word from the party.

Five MLAs of the JJP are learnt to have skipped the meeting called by the party in New Delhi.

Several BJP leaders had earlier maintained that party would fight all 10 Lok Sabha seats in the state.

Union minister Arjun Munda, BJP national general secretary Tarun Chugh, who have been appointed as observers by the party, as well as BJP's Rajya Sabha MP Subhash Barala are in Haryana Niwas.

Amid uncertainty over what exactly would happen next, there was also speculation in some quarters that Haryana BJP chief and Kurukshetra MP Nayab Saini may be appointed chief minister and Khattar may contest as the BJP's candidate from the Karnal Lok Sabha seat.

Khattar will remain chief minister, Kanwar Pal, who was education minister, told reporters outside Haryana Niwas after submitting his resignation. The BJP-JJD alliance was only for running the state government, he added in response to a question.

At present, the BJP has 41 MLAs in the 90-member House while the JJP has 10. The ruling combine also enjoys the support of six of seven independents.

The main opposition Congress has 30 MLAs and the Indian National Lok Dal and Haryana Lokhit Party have one seat each.

The BJP had won all 10 Lok Sabha seats in the state in 2019.