Crisis deepens in JJP as four MLAs resign from party posts in Haryana

Deepender Deswal

Hisar, August 17

The Jannayak Janata Party (JJP), a former coalition partner in Haryana’s government, faces a deepening crisis ahead of the Assembly elections. Four MLAs, including former minister Anoop Dhanak, Devender Babli, Ram Karan Kala and Ishwar Singh, have resigned from party posts, citing personal reasons. While they haven’t left the party yet, their resignation letters hint at a possible switch to another party before the polls.

Dhanak, who served as Minister of State in the Khattar government for four-and-a-half years, was the national vice-president and a member of Political Affairs Committee (PAC) in JJP. Babli, MLA from Tohana, was also a cabinet minister from the JJP quota.

With these resignations, only three MLAs remain loyal to the party — Naina Chautala (Dushyant’s mother), MLA from the Badhra segment in Bhiwani district; Dushyant himself, MLA from Uchana Kalan in Jind; and Amarjeet Dhanda, MLA from Julana segment in Jind. Seven other MLAs, including Ram Niwas Suraj Khera and Jogi Ram Singh, face disqualification charges, while Ram Kumar Gautam was the first to leave the party.

The resignation letters suggest that these MLAs are unwilling to contest the polls on JJP tickets. JJP spokesperson Deepkamal Saharan stated that Anoop Dhanak, a confidant of the party, is unlikely to be re-nominated for the Uklana assembly segment.