ML Khattar to stake claim for government formation in Haryana today

Khattar will meet Haryana Governor Satyadev Narayan Arya after holding a legislative party meeting in Chandigarh.

After the BJP, which won 40 seats, failed to get the majority in the Haryana assembly polls, it has stitched a deal with the JJP which has 10 seats under its belt.

Holding a press conference on Friday night, BJP national president Amit Shah said, "Keeping in mind the mandate of the people, leaders of BJP and JJP have decided that the two parties will form a government in Haryana together. The Chief Minister will be from the BJP and the deputy chief minister will be from JJP."

The JJP had earlier said it would support any party- be it BJP or Congress- which fulfills their demands for Haryana.

As per the deal, JJP chief Dushyant Chautala will become Khattar's deputy in the next state government. "It was needed to be with the BJP to provide a stable government in Haryana," said Chautala.

After Haryana elected a hung Assembly, with BJP falling short of six MLAs from the majority mark, the Independents had decided to support BJP form the government.

However, the saffron party had to face intense criticism after an image of Haryana Lokhit Party leader Gopal Kanda and Sirsa MLA, who is reportedly accused in nine criminal cases, including rape and abatement to suicide, being flown to Delhi for negotiating with BJP top brass in Delhi, for government formation.

Also senior BJP leader Uma Bharti had warned her own party over Kanda's support.

The party then dropped Kanda despite his offer of "unconditional" support.

Meanwhile, the eight Independent candidates have said they would support BJP and were hopeful they will be "adjusted" in the ministry of the new state government, reports said.

The Congress, which won 31 seats, cried foul early on Friday with one of its losing candidates, Randeep Singh Surjewala, saying, "Any government formed by the BJP will be illegitimate".

(Image Credit: ML Khattar Facebook)