New Delhi:
Former chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, who is in the national capital to strategies on the formation of the government, on Friday said that they are open for suggestions from Jannayak Janta Party (JJP) president Dushyant Chautala if he agrees to extend support to the Congress. He made this remark after Chautala Junior said that JJP will give its support to that party which will agree to his party’s common minimum programme.
“Dushyant ji stated a few points in his press conference. As far as the Common Minimum Programme is concerned, it's already provided in our manifesto-be it old-age pension or 75 per cent job reservation for Haryanvis. If he has other suggestions, we're open to that. Now it's up to him,” he was quoted as saying by ANI.
Hooda has also made fervent appeals to independents to come together against the Bharatiya Janata Party, which emerged as the single largest party in Haryana. The former chief minister will meet Congress president Sonia Gandhi and senior leader Ghulam Nabi Azad.
His party colleague, former MP Deepinder Singh Hooda, said Independents were in touch with the Congress. "Haryana has voted the BJP out, that is clear. The BJP is now trying to pressure Independents as many of them want to join us. This cannot be accepted in a democracy," said Hooda.
Meanwhile, Congress leader Randeep Surjewala has criticised the BJP for seeking Haryana Lokhit Party leader Gopal Kanda's support, saying the ruling party had been against him. Kanda has won the Sirsa seat.
While the Congress is keen to have a 'mahagathbandhan' led by it in Haryana, it does not want a repeat of the Karnataka model where it had to give the post of the chief minister to a minor ally.
