Any government formed by BJP in Haryana illegitimate: Congress' Randeep Surjewala

"Any government formed by the BJP in Haryana will be illegitimate," said Surjewala who was defeated by BJP's Leela Ram in Kaithal by a narrow margin.

Interestingly it was the same Congress which in 2018 formed the Karnataka government in an alliance with the Janata Dal Secular despite coming second.

As the assembly poll results were declared on Thursday, the BJP won 40 out of 90 seats while the Congress managed to win 31 in Haryana.

The Jannayak Janata Party (JJP), which may become a kingmaker, has won 10 seats.

However, the BJP is confident of forming the government with the support of the Independent MLAs.

Haryana Chief Minister and BJP leader, Manohar Lal Khattar, is presently in New Delhi to hold talks over the government formation. Khattar, who is eyeing a second term as the Chief Minister, said, "We are going to form the government." 

In the middle of the talks, JJP leader Nishant Singh said, "It is not important to give support to either of the BJP and Congress...The mandate is definitely in one way against the BJP."

After giving a call to win more than 75 seats, the BJP in Haryana on Thursday struggled to touch even 40 with several of the outgoing ministers losing their seats.