Uneasy MLAs of BJP allies on radar of Haryana and Rajasthan Congress

New Delhi: Haryana and Rajasthan Congress are tapping the growing unrest among MLAs of BJP’s allies in the two states. Some independent legislators and MLAs belonging to Dushyant Chautala’s JJP in Haryana and Hanuman Beniwal-led RLP in Rajasthan have become more restless after the government-farmers talks on farm laws failed on Tuesday evening. Opposition circles say the growing grouses are actually rooted in lack of power-sharing by their respective party leaders and farm bills only made them worse.

Even as one supporting Independent MLA of Haryana’s BJP coalition government withdrew support and another quit chairmanship of a government body, ex-Congress CM Bhupinder Hooda is learnt to have “reached out” to many. “I have always said JJP took anti-BJP votes and shared power with BJP. The agitation has become tense because of the highhandedness of the Manohar Lal government and the Centre’s rigidity. These MLAs know farmers are watching who are with them and against them,” Hooda told ET. “The time has come for all those MLAs of Haryana who care to fight against these anti-farmer laws of the BJP governments to join hands,” PCC chief Kumari Selja told ET.

Even as JJP leadership is straining under farmers’ pressure to withdraw support to the Manohar Lal regime, at least six of the 10 JJP MLAs have been associated with Congress in the past and so do some independent MLAs.

Sources said Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot has of late ‘established a close working rapport’ with the three RLP MLAs, especially after the CM foiled a toppling bid a few months ago. And it may be the ‘unrest’ among these MLAs, who are also making no secret of their opposition to the farm bills, that prompted their party leader Beniwal to suddenly notify his opposition to the laws. A section of BJP has been, incidentally, propping up Beniwal as a strategic caste leader opposed to both Gehlot and BJP’s ex-CM Vasundhara Raje.