Dushyant hints at alliance with AAP, formal announcement soon

CHANDIGARH: Jannayak Janata Party (JJP) leader and Hisar MP Dushyant Chautala on Wednesday hinted at his party’s alliance with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and said a formal announcement would be made within the next two days.

He, however, clarified that they won’t enter into an alliance with Congress.

Talking to media at the party office in Chandigarh, he said talks regarding alliance has been finalised and a committee that negotiated on behalf of the party for alliance has submitted its report. “The report would be sent to Ajay Chautala for approval and announcement would be made within the next two days during the Navratras,” he added.

Without naming AAP, Dushyant said they would tie up with a prominent party. Asked if Congress would be part of the alliance, Dushyant said that their party is against the ideology of Congress, thus they would not be part of any alliance with Congress.

Sources said both JJP and AAP have agreed on a formula where JJP would contest on six seats while AAP would put up candidates on four seats.

Sources, however, said earlier, AAP wanted equal share (five out of total 10 seats) and JJP wanted to give only three seats to AAP. The talks between both the outfits regarding alliance were hanging in balance, sources added.

“AAP may get Gurgaon, Faridabad, Karnal and Ambala seats, while JJP may contest from Hisar, Sirsa, Bhiwani-Mahendergarh, Sonepat and Kurukshetra. AAP may ask for Rohtak seat in place of Karnal. However, the formal announcement is expected by Saturday,” said a senior AAP leader.

Dushyant said his priority would be to contest the parliamentary elections from Hisar. “However, a final decision would be taken by the party in this regard,” he added.

On the recent notices issued by the Haryana speaker to four INLD MLAs for switching their loyalties from INLD to JJP, Dushyant said they had not taken the membership of JJP, but are only supporting the new party. He said if they want to join JJP, they would resign from INLD.

Dushyant also attacked his estranged uncle Abhay Singh Chautala saying that why he has not taken any action against one INLD MLA (Nagender Bhadana from NIT, Faridabad) despite the fact that he has been supporting BJP for the past four-and-a-half years. Referring to recent meeting of Abhay Chautala with Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar, Dushyant said he had already said that he (Abhay) had been teaming up with BJP.

Meanwhile, former INLD MLA and senior INLD leader Puran Singh Dabra also joined JJP. Dabra is also a close relative of Chautalas. State JJP president Nishan Singh, former speaker Satbir Kadian and national general secretary K C Bangar were also present on this occasion.