Haryana political crisis: Why Opposition can’t move no-trust motion against CM Saini’s government

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Haryana is witnessing a political storm. The saffron party’s former ally, the Jannayak Janta Party (JJP), has upped the ante after three Independent MLAs switched their support from the ruling BJP to the Congress.

JJP leader and former Haryana deputy chief minister Dushyant Chautala has written to Governor Bandaru Dattatreya seeking a floor test against the Nayab Singh Saini government to prove majority in the state Assembly. The Opposition Congress has called for CM Saini’s resignation, saying his government is in the minority.

The Haryana CM on Thursday (9 May) said that he is ready for the floor test, exuding confidence that there is no “danger” to his government.

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But can the Opposition move a no-trust motion against the Saini government? We explain.

JJP’s Chautala writes to governor

In his letter to the Haryana governor on Wednesday (8 May), Chautala said the Saini government no longer enjoys a majority.

“I urge you to direct the appropriate authority to immediately call for a floor test to determine majority of government,” he wrote.

Chautala also said that his party is “open to backing any other political party for government formation.”

The JJP leader called for imposing President’s rule in Haryana if the BJP government fails to prove a majority on the House floor.

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Former Haryana Deputy CM and JJP JJP leader Dushyant Chautala writes a letter to Governor Bandaru Dattatreya seeking urgent action regarding the present political situation in the state.

In his letter, he urges the Governor to call for Floor Test immediately to make the… pic.twitter.com/LziU6LVqN4

— ANI (@ANI) May 9, 2024

On Wednesday, the ex-Haryana deputy CM said that he would support the Congress “from outside” if the Leader of Opposition Bhupinder Singh Hooda takes steps to topple the BJP government.

Speaking to Indian Express, Chautala said, “He (Congress’ Hooda) has to approach the Governor and move forward. As part of the Opposition, we’ll stand with them. Today, this government does not have a majority, which is why the CM should resign. We shall also be writing to the Governor and do our bit, but Bhupinder Hooda has to initiate it. We’ll be part of a collective Opposition and vote against the present government.

Reacting to Chautala’s statement, former Haryana CM Hooda told Indian Express, “He is saying these things after staying in the BJP-led government for four-and-a-half years. If he isn’t the BJP’s B-Team, he should meet the Governor and parade his 10 MLAs, and then I shall send ours to the Raj Bhavan, led by MLA Bharat Bhushan Batra.”

The BJP’s alliance with JJP had collapsed in March over seat-sharing.

What is the Congress doing?

A Congress leader and deputy LoP in the Haryana Assembly, Aftab Ahmed, has sought the governor’s appointment on 10 May to “present a memorandum regarding the present political situation in the state”.

The Congress is demanding CM Saini’s resignation on “moral grounds”. It has also called for early elections.

LoP Hooda, who is reportedly the architect of the crisis, and Haryana Congress chief Udai Bhan were present at the press conference in Rohtak on Tuesday when three MLAs – Sombir Sangwan (Dadri), Randhir Gollen (Pundri) and Dharampal Gonder (Nilokheri) – said are withdrawing support from the BJP.

VIDEO | "In Haryana, the government is not in majority. They should resign, impose President's rule here and let the people decide what they want through elections. There's a wave going on in favour of Congress in the state," says former Haryana CM and Congress leader Bhupinder S… pic.twitter.com/aWkEDGT8Lo

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 9, 2024

Bhan has said the Assembly elections in the state should be conducted simultaneously with the Lok Sabha polls on 25 May. The Haryana Assembly polls are due for October.

‘Nothing to worry about’

The BJP has downplayed the situation.

Former Haryana CM ML Khattar has claimed many MLAs are in touch with the BJP and there is “nothing to worry about”.

“The Congress and JJP shouldn’t worry about us. Instead, they should first set their own houses in order. There is no threat to our government. It will continue to serve the people. We shall win an absolute majority in the next Assembly elections, so that such a situation never arises again," he was quoted as saying by Indian Express.

CM Saini has expressed confidence that his government will win the no-trust vote.

VIDEO | "Where was Dushyant Chautala when the Special Session of the Assembly was called? He didn't come back then. We will call the Session and will win the trust vote," says Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini (@NayabSainiBJP) on Dushyant Chautala seeking trust vote in letter to… pic.twitter.com/FD1JS4cBog

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 9, 2024

The BJP says it has the support of four MLAs from the JJP.

In the 90-member Haryana Assembly, the BJP has 40 MLAs and is two short of the majority. the current strength of the House is 88 after Khattar and another Independent MLA resigned from the Assembly to contest Lok Sabha polls.

After three Independent MLAs crossed sides on Tuesday, the Saini government has the support of 43 MLAs — BJP 40, two Independents, and one from the Haryana Lokhit Party
(HLP).

The Congress has 30 legislators and the support of three Independents. The JJP has a total of 10 MLAs. Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) has one MLA. To get past the majority mark of 45, the Congress needs the support of all JJP MLAs, and the lone MLAs of HLP and the INLD.

However, the loyalties of four JJP MLAs could shift to the BJP, which claims their support . As per an NDTV report, four MLAs from Chautala’s party met former CM Khattar in the afternoon on Thursday at the residence of Minister of State Mahipal Dhanda in Panipat.

Can there be a floor test in Haryana?

It does not seem possible.

As per the rules, a no-confidence motion cannot be moved within six months of the last one.

A floor test was held in March after Khattar stepped down as CM and was replaced by Saini. A day after taking oath as the Haryana CM on 12 March, Saini had won the trust vote.

So, as of now, he has that six-month immunity.

Hooda agreed that the floor test could not be held currently. However, he told Indian Express that the “Chief Minister should resign on moral grounds, as his government has lost majority”.

The Opposition can meet the governor and stake a claim to form the government. However, even if the Congress and the JJP display their strength of MLAs in front of the governor, it is not known what Dattatreya would do, noted Indian Express. 

Haryana Assembly Speaker Gian Chand Gupta has reportedly said there was no need to conduct a floor test for another six months as it was held in March.

As per Indian Express, Gupta said, “Officially, I have not received any intimation from any MLA. It is only in the media that there are reports that three Independent MLAs have decided to support the Congress. Usually, when a no-confidence motion is moved, the next one can only be moved after six months, although the Governor, as a constitutional authority, can take any decision as and when the need arises. If he gives us any directions, we will follow those.”

Even if the Haryana governor asks the Saini government to prove its majority within a certain period, the defection of some JJP MLAs remains a real possibility. If that happens, the BJP could easily win the no-trust motion, as per the newspaper.

With inputs from agencies