In a big shot in the arm for BJP in poll-bound Haryana, two Jat faces, Devender Singh Babli and Sunil Sangwan, on Monday joined the party in the presence of national General Secretary Arun Singh.
While Jannayak Janta Party (JJP) rebel Babli is the former minister in the government led by Manohar Lal Khattar, Sangwan took voluntary retirement from the post of Jail Superintendent.
Sangwan is the son of Satpal Sangwan, a former minister in the state government. They are likely to contest Assembly elections from Tohana and Charkhi Dadri, respectively.
A day earlier, three rebel MLAs of the JJP joined the BJP in the presence of Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini and state election co-incharge Biplab Deb at a rally in Jind.
The MLAs who joined the BJP were Ram Kumar Gautam from Narnaund, Jogi Ram Sihag from Barwala and former minister and JJP MLA from Uklana (reserved) Anoop Dhanak.
While all of them had resigned from the JJP, two -- Sihag and Dhanak -- had tendered their resignations from the state Assembly too.
However, JJP’s Narwana (reserved) MLA Ram Niwas Surjekhera, who was booked in a rape case, did not turn up in the rally. Sources said the criminal charges against him were the reason for not joining the BJP.
During the electioneering, Chief Minister Saini, who is leading it by travelling far and wide across the state, is listing out measures taken by the BJP government to compensate the farmers, the Dalits and the poor.
Countering the Congress’ ‘Haryana Maange Hisab’ campaign, he accused the Opposition of spreading lies.
Just two months after the parliamentary elections, politics in Haryana heated with the Election Commission (EC) announcing the Assembly polls for 90 seats in a single phase on October 5.
Political observers say the ruling BJP, which is confident of its return to power with a majority for the third-consecutive term under the leadership of first-time Chief Minister and Other Backward Class (OBC) leader Saini, has been facing anti-incumbency and farmers’ anger.
The BJP’s main rival, the Congress, which ruled the state for a decade till 2014, has an edge over it with the support of farmers, traders and government employees.
Senior Congress leader and two-time chief minister Bhupinder Hooda is working hard to return to power amid the party’s internal ‘war of supremacy’.
Even the AAP has launched its campaign by targeting the BJP government over the issues of unemployment, law and order and the Agnipath scheme.
Contesting solo on all seats, the party launched the ‘Kejriwal Ki 5 Guarantee’ campaign, promising free electricity, free medical treatment, free education, Rs 1,000 per month to every woman and employment for the youth.
International rights body expresses concern over persecution of Hindus in B'desh
The Global Bengali Hindu Coalition (GBHC), a Toronto-based rights body, on Friday raised serious concerns over rising persecution of Hindus in Bangladesh and urged the world communities to take steps to stop the atrocities on minorities in the neighbouring country.
Alert along Tripura-Mizoram-B’desh border after reports of cross-border movement of militants
Security forces including the Border Security Force (BSF) are on a high alert after reports of movement of militants from Bangladesh along the Tripura and Mizoram borders, officials said on Friday.
Tripura govt gives special priority to education for backward classes, girls: CM Saha
The Tripura government has been given special priority to the development of the educational infrastructure in the state and is working to provide quality education to children from all sections of society, especially, backward classes and girls, Chief Minister Manik Saha said here on Thursday.
In a first, Agartala Book Fair begins without any participation from Bangladesh
The Agartala Book Fair began here on Thursday with colourful ceremonies, albeit minus the participation of any booksellers and publishers from Bangladesh -- for the first time -- in view of the unrest in the neighbouring country.
Tripura govt to move bill giving retirement benefits to MLAs who served even for a day
A bill would be moved in the Winter session of the Tripura Assembly amending the existing law to provide retirement benefits to MLAs who have served even for just a day, officials said on Thursday.
Urbania bus service flagged off for tourists; Govt prioritizes development of tourism, says Minister Sushanta Chowdhury
In yet another boost to the state tourism sector, Minister Sushanta Chowdhury on Wednesday flagged off Urbania bus services for the tourists and said that the government has prioritized development of tourism industry to create new employment opportunities.
Tripura gets Chief Information Commissioner after over 3 years
Governor Indra Sena Reddy Nallu on Tuesday administered oath to Binoy Shankar Mishra as the state Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) at a simple ceremony at the Raj Bhavan.
Wild elephant hit by speeding train in Tripura succumbs to injuries
A 35-year-old wild elephant, critically injured by a speeding train in Tripura’s Khowai district, succumbed to its injuries late Monday night, officials said on Tuesday.