Follow Us
Geetanjali Gayatri
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, January 19
Nothing appears to be going well for the Indian National Lok Dal, at the centre of a family feud recently that led to the party’s split, as its tally fell to 17 in the 90-member Haryana Assembly today following the demise of its Pehowa MLA Jaswinder Singh Sandhu.
Sandhu (63), a former Agriculture Minister, was the INLD Deputy Leader in the House. He was seen as one of the few legislators who would play a “pacifier” each time heated exchanges between the INLD and the Congress (both in Opposition) threatened to turn ugly in the House. His cremation is slated for tomorrow at his native Gumthala Garhu village near Pehowa.
After Sandhu’s death, the INLD is on a par with the Congress in the number game. In 2018, the INLD lost another MLA, Harichand Midha, whose passing away necessitated the Jind bypoll.
While the INLD strength came two down since the last election, the Congress count went two up after the merger of the Haryana Janhit Party.
Sources said that though there is no immediate threat to INLD’s Abhay Chauatala retaining the position of the Leader of Opposition, any change in the number game---a fall in the INLD count or an increase in that of the Congress following the January 28 Jind bypoll---will automatically create a vacancy at that position.
If no other bypoll is held, Abhay can hold on to this position, though the only potential threat, sources maintain, could come if INLD MLA and Abhay’s sister-in-law Naina Chautala decides to give up her seat.
Naina, wife of Ajay Chautala and mother of MP Dushyant Chautala, has been vocal in lending support to Jannayak Janata Party, floated recently by her husband after a split with his brother Abhay.
Sources said Abhay was refraining from expelling Naina despite her support to the JPP as it would disturb the critical number game. The latter, too, cannot disassociate from the INLD since she was elected on the party ticket and any such attempt would invite the provisions of the anti-defection law.
Sources said the outcome of the Jind bypoll will decide whether or not the ruling BJP government is keen on holding a by-election in Pehowa. With the Assembly elections still over eight months away, the BJP government can request the Election Commission to hold the bypoll with the Lok Sabha elections, likely to be held in April.
1