Independent MLA's death in Haryana another blow to BJP in assembly count game

After the death of independent MLA Rakesh Daulatabad in Haryana, the state's Naib Singh Saini government is in yet another trouble. Rakesh was the MLA from Badshapur assembly constituency in Haryana under Gurugram district. He died of a heart attack on Saturday. After the demise of the independent MLA, the Nayab Singh Saini government, which was already running in a minority, has become a major challenge to attain a majority. The already minority Saini government is short of one more MLA after three independent MLAs withdrew their support. The BJP has 40 MLAs in Haryana, with the support of one Rakesh and one Haryana Lokhit Party MLA Gopal Kanda. According to this, the BJP has a total of 42 MLAs, but the number has gone up to 41 after Rakesh's death. Now Saini will need the support of 3 MLAs to save his government, but only with the support of the first two would the issue have been resolved. After Rakesh's death, the 90-member House now has a total of 87 MLAs. BJP's Manohar Lal Khattar and Ranjit Chautala, who resigned as MLAs after contesting the Lok Sabha polls, have already resigned. Three MLA posts are vacant due to resignation and death of independent MLA Rakesh Daulatabad. In the current scenario, any government in Haryana needs the support of 44 MLAs to secure a majority in the Lok Sabha. It remains to be seen how the BJP will make up for the deficit of three seats or whether the opposition will take advantage of it. What is Haryana's numbers game? The BJP has 40 MLAs in Haryana, with the support of one independent and one Haryana Lokhit Party MLA Gopal Kanda. With this, the BJP alliance, which was two seats away from a majority, got 42 seats. Talking about the opposition, Congress has the support of 30 Congress and 3 Independent MLAs. Haryana's regional party JJP has 10 MLAs, the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) has one and another independent MLA in the form of Balraj Kundu. All these add up to 45 seats, but this seems unlikely at present as JJP is said to be in no mood to support the Congress. Apart from this, he also has differences with the INLD. This is the reason why the opposition does not seem united despite the minority government in Haryana. Along with Lok Sabha elections, assembly by-elections are also happening in Karnal. The seat fell vacant after the resignation of former Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar. Naib Singh Saini is contesting from this seat. In that case, if Saini wins the by-election, it will ease the way for the BJP. Qatar had won this constituency in 2014 and 2019. Currently, there is no confusion in Haryana politics because on March 13 this year, Naib Singh Saini proved his majority in the assembly. According to the law, if a majority is proved, there is no majority test in the assembly for six months. Accordingly, the Saini government has time till September 13. Following this, Haryana assembly elections will begin.