After a day of political upheavals which saw OBC leader Nayab Singh Saini become Haryana's new chief minister, the new BJP government is all set to face a trust vote in the Assembly on Wednesday.
The new chief minister, after assuming charge, told reporters that they had the support of 48 MLAs. "We have urged the governor to convene the assembly session tomorrow when we will prove our majority on the floor of the House," Saini said, adding that they gave a letter of support of 48 MLAs to the governor.
In the 90-member state assembly, the BJP has 41 members, and it also enjoys the support of six of the seven independents as well as of lone Haryana Lokhit Party MLA Gopal Kanda. The JJP has 10 MLAs in the House. The main opposition Congress has 30 MLAs while the Indian National Lok Dal has one.
The development comes as BJP broke up with alliance partner JJP over seat-sharing differences.
Earlier, during the Cabinet meeting, Saini had praised the Khattar government for its work in Haryana. "During the past nine-and-a-half years, he (Khattar) gave a new direction to Haryana and presented an example of good governance. 'Haryana Ek Haryanvi Ek' was not a mere slogan, but equitable development was carried out. We have worked without discrimination in the spirit of Antyodaya," Saini said.
He also added that the Khattar government scripted history in many spheres be it the online transfer policy of teachers or giving jobs on merit, he said, adding that he would work with full dedication and deliver on the expectations of people.
Besides Saini, five MLAs -- four from the BJP and one independent -- were sworn in as ministers. However, former home minister and six-term MLA from Ambala Cantt, Anil Vij, has not found a place in the new cabinet.
Vij reportedly refused to attend the swearing-in ceremony and walked out of the legislature party meeting where Saini was unanimously named the CM-designate.
Outgoing chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar later told reporters that Vij's name was on the list of new ministers to be sworn in at the Raj Bhawan ceremony, but the MLA decided to skip it. The former CM indicated that both he and Saini would talk to Vij later to persuade him to accept a place in the cabinet.
