Dushyant Chautala, the former Deputy Chief Minister of Haryana and founder of the Jannayak Janata Party (JJP), has firmly denied any intentions of rejoining the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) ahead of the assembly elections. Interestingly, he was open to the idea of joining the Opposition’s Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) bloc given certain conditions.
Speaking at news agency ANI’s podcast, Chautala said, “I can on record assure you that I won’t go to BJP,” addressing speculation following his exit from the NDA.
Regarding the potential alliance with the INDIA bloc, Chautala remarked, “Let’s see if we have the numbers and yes if our party is taken as a priority, then why not?” He emphasised the importance of JJP being considered a key player in any alliance.
#WATCH | Former Haryana Dy CM and JJP Leader Dushyant Chautala says, ” I can on record assure you that I won’t go to BJP…”
When asked if he will ally with INDIA alliance, he says, “Let’s see if we have the numbers and yes if our party is taken as a priority, then why not? pic.twitter.com/J5jyoMyIa0
— ANI (@ANI) August 25, 2024
Chautala criticised the BJP for the perceived disrespect towards JJP, attributing it to unresolved disagreements over seat-sharing arrangements for the recent Lok Sabha elections.
He expressed confidence in JJP’s prospects in the Haryana election saying, “When asked about JJP’s performance in the Lok Sabha elections and the upcoming Haryana Assembly elections, I don’t take it as a crisis now. What happened, happened. I see that as an opportunity now…last time also our party was a kingmaker…you can see the coming days as well, JJP will be the most important political party of the state (Haryana).”
On the party’s lackluster performance during the Lok Sabha elections, the JJP leader told ANI, “There was anger due to farmers’ agitation. Our major vote share was of farmers and that major vote share wanted me to step down during the agitation. My party and I thought we should stand with the govt and make amendments because those were central bills. Maybe we couldn’t understand the sentiments and that’s why we paid the price during Lok Sabha elections.”
#WATCH | When asked about JJP’s performance in the Lok Sabha elections and the upcoming Haryana Assembly elections, Former Dy CM and JJP Leader Dushyant Chautala says, ” …I don’t take it as a crisis now. What happened, happened. I see that as an opportunity now…last time… pic.twitter.com/MaIyouNXGm
— ANI (@ANI) August 25, 2024
Dushyant Chautala On ‘Jat Politics’ In Haryana, Civic Facilities & Corruption
Addressing the notion of caste-based ‘Jat politics’ ruling the state, Dushyant Chautala argued, “I believe Kumari Selja is not a Jat; her father was a minister, and Udaybhan is not a Jat; his father was an MLA. Politics can be within the family. Politics cannot be because of that. If your family has done something for the public, then the public will elect you repeatedly. Scindia is not a Jat. I can give you 200 examples within each party across the country; is Pankaj Rajnath Singh a Jat? Is Anurag Thakur a Jat?”
He further elaborated his perspective, saying, “Chaudhary Devi Lal won 85 out of 90 seats in 1987 and he gave a slogan ‘AJGAR’ — Ahir, Jat, Gujjar, Rajput. He provided leadership to four communities. This slogan was successful in 1989, making VP Singh Prime Minister. You cannot do politics based on a single caste; you must do social engineering.”
ALSO READ | Haryana Election ‘Kal Kara Do, Meri Party…’: BJP’s Anil Vij Hits Back At Congress & AAP’s Criticism — WATCH
On urban development, he stressed, “Civic facilities in our country won’t improve until we start urban planning education, no matter how good a minister you make. If there’s no urban planning, if you don’t have new facilities replacing the old, you can’t progress. BJP made (Nayab Singh) Saini the Chief Minister. Why did they make him the Chief Minister? For the Saini community? Then the Punjabi community was bound to get upset that (ML) Khattar sahab had stepped down.”
Regarding land corruption in Haryana, he blamed former Chief Minister and veteran Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda, stating, “This (corruption) is because of Hooda…the colonisation that is happening today, all thanks to Hooda.”
#WATCH | Former Haryana Dy CM and JJP Leader Dushyant Chautala says, ” Civic facilities in our country won’t improve until we start Urban planning education, no matter how good minister you make…this (corruption) is because of (Bhupinder Singh) Hooda…the colonisation that is… pic.twitter.com/EBuMBjhX7h
— ANI (@ANI) August 25, 2024
Meanwhile, Chautala has expressed confidence in JJP’s preparation for the Haryana Assembly elections, scheduled for October 1, and said that the JJP will contest all 90 assembly seats.
