Support wasn’t for free, JJP got cabinet berths: Biplab

CHANDIGARH: Adding spice to the war of words between the two partners in Haryana’s governing alliance, BJP’s state affairs in-charge Biplab Deb said on Tuesday that the Janhit Janta Party’s (JJP) support was not a special favour but a deal for ministerial berths.

While in Faridabad to attend a party event, the former Tripura chief minister said: “Free mein koi samarthan nahin diya hai, kisi ne ehsaan nahin kiya hai, sarkaar chalane mein numbers ki jarurat thee. Unko bhee mantri-pad diya hai (Their support wasn’t for free. Nobody has done us any favour. Numbers were required to run the government, and for that we gave them ministerial berths). Since the party could get only 40 seats in the last assembly elections, JJP’s was necessary.” In a veiled referene to the independent MLAs, he claimed the party had several other “committed friends”.

About the future of the alliance, Deb said for now it was running smooth, but it was difficult to predict its course. He was reacting to recent statements from deputy chief minister Dushyant Chautala about JJP’s claim to his Uchana assembly seat from where Deb had wished to field former central minister Birender Singh’s wife, Premlata Singh.

Reacting to Deb’s statement, JJP senior vice-president K C Banger said: “Our 2019 alliance was dictated by the sentiments of the state’s people, who wanted a stable government. Stability was also a policy decision of both parties, and it was free of ‘ehsaan’ or bargaining from our side. The choice of words and fair dealing are vital to the sustainability of any alliance. The JJP has been committed to the alliance all these years, as evident from the elections for the Rajya Sabha, civic bodies, and President.


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