Haryana Govt. Reduced to Minority, Sikh Voters to Play Key Role in 4 Seats

In a setback for Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini, on 7 May, three independent MLAs withdrew their support from the BJP govt. and announced they would back the INC. The BJP govt. is now two short of majority mark in the 90-member Haryana assembly. The MLAs Sombir Sangwan (Dadri), Randhir Singh Gollen (Pundri) and Dharampal Gonder (Nilokheri) announced their decision at a press conference in Rohtak in the presence of Leader of the Opposition Bhupinder Singh Hooda and state INC chief Udai Bhan. Former deputy CM and Jannayak Janta Party (JJP) leader Dushyant Chautala said on 8 May he would ‘support Leader of Opposition Bhupinder Singh Hooda’ if the INC initiates a move to topple the state govt. Given the general elections and that floor test in Haryana assembly took place in March this year and state assembly elections are due by October this year, INC is biding its time. Farmer distress figures high on the reasons the MLAs cited for withdrawing support. This can be considered a fallout of the current Farmers’ Protest. Out of 10 parliamentary seats in Haryana, Sikhs hold sway in at least 4 seats where their population is close to 20% of the total voters. The issue affecting Sikh voters would be the urban-rural divide. Urban voters incline towards BJP and rural voters are anti-BJP. Another issue is the Haryana State Gurdwara Management Committee coming into being in September 2022 but not being able to conduct elections which are to be held by 31 Jul this year.