New Delhi: With Haryana assembly polls
producing a fractured mandate, Congress has opened channels of
communication with Bhajan Lal-led breakaway faction for
support and is wooing the seven successful Independent MLAs to
help form the next government in the state.
Requiring 46 MLAs to form the government in the
90-member assembly, Congress is short of the magic figure by
six.
Party sources said of the 7 Independents, four are
Congress rebels while three have their loyalties to INLD chief
Om Prakash Chautala.
As both Congress and INLD are in a close race to form
government in the state, sources in Congress said channels of
communications are open with Bhajan Lal-led Haryana Janhit
Congress-BL which has six MLAs.
"Bhajan Lal is an old Congressman...Our channels of
communications are open with him," a senior party leader
closely associated with Haryana affairs said.
However, the leader said the party does not know what
Bhajan Lal would ask for in return for his support.
Congress had denied party ticket to Bhajan Lal's son
Chander Mohan alias Chand Mohammed after his controversial
conversion to Islam and then reconversion.
Party sources were optimistic that Congress will form
the government but were worried whether Chautala had some aces
up in his sleeves at this point of time when so much depends
on Independents and Bhajan Lal-led party.
Congress sources counted 32 MLAs in Chautala's kitty
along with one of SAD. If BJP, former ally of INLD, supports
it, the figure would go upto 36. Add to it the three
Independents loyal to Chautala.
Sources said that in such a situation, the support of
the HJC-BL would become crucial for both the rival formations
in the race to form government.
For Congress, even if it gets the support of four
MLAs who are said to be party rebels, the tally reaches only
44 and still two short of majority. The party would again need
the support of Bhajan Lal's party.
As the political situation in Haryana led to an
introspection in the party circles, Union Minister Shelja,
considered a rival of Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda in
state politics, met party chief Sonia Gandhi to discuss the
situation in the state.
Sources indicated central observers for the state
would be appointed by tomorrow and the CLP meeting is expected
to be held in the next two days.
Bureau Report
First Published: Thursday, October 22, 2009, 20:31