Congress stakes claim to form govt in Haryana

The Congress on Friday staked claim to form the next government in Haryana.

Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee president Phool Chand Mullana met Haryana Governor Jagannath Pahadia at his residence on Friday morning. Mullana reportedly handed over letters of support from all seven Independent Members of Legislative Assembly to the governor.

The Congress ended up six seats short of a simple majority in the 90-member Haryana assembly.

When queried about how many independents were supporting the Congress, Mullana said, "All of them are with us".

Mullana had informed journalists on Thursday that Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda would not be able to meet the governor today because of his engagements in Delhi, so the state Congress unit chief will meet him instead.

He added that the Congress legislature committee will meet in Chandigarh later in the day to elect its leader. The Congress emerged as the single largest party with 40 Members of Legislative Assembly, followed by 31 members of the Indian National Lok Dal. The INLD's ally Shiromani Akali Dal got one seat.

Of the remaining 18 seats, Haryana Janhit Congress-BL, a new entrant in the assembly polls, got six seats, the Bharatiya Janata Party secured four seats, the Bahujan Samaj Party got one seat and independent candidates secured seven seats.