SAD's relationship with BJP is sacred, says Parkash Singh Badal

Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) patron, Parkash Singh Badal on Sunday, said his party's relationship with the BJP is "sacred". "Our relation with BJP is sacred and politically I am aligned with the BJP," the five-time CM said on the sidelines of oath-taking ceremony of Manohar Lal Khattar as Haryana CM and Jannayak Janta Party (JJP) chief Dushyant Chautala as deputy CM at Raj Bhawan. After fractured mandate in Haryana, BJP sealed a deal with JJP and its leader Dushyant Chautala was made Deputy CM. 

The SAD had contested the 2019 Haryana Assembly polls in alliance with Indian National Lok Dal (INLD), although Badal's party was is in alliance with BJP in Punjab and a partner of NDA at the Centre. SAD contested three seats and failed to open its account while its ally INLD could retain the Ellenabad seat from where Abhay Singh Chautala won. Badal, who apparently played a crucial role in bringing together the JJP and the BJP to form a government in Haryana, said the BJP-JJP alliance is good for the state's future and his good wishes are with the two parties. Commending Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the former Punjab chief minister said the PM had expanded the country's influence at the international level and the entire country is with him. He said the saffron party is "in favour of communal harmony and peace" in the country.

READ: PM Modi wishes Khattar & Dushyant Chautala after oath-taking ceremony

Badal also said the former deputy prime minister Devi Lal, the great-grandfather of Dushyant Chautala, was his "closest friend and sympathiser". "Today I am happy that Devi Lal's grandson (Dushyant) became the deputy chief minister of Haryana," he said. Badal said he was attending the ceremony as he had "blood relations" with the former PM. On his party's relations with the BJP in Punjab, Badal said there are "no differences" in the alliance between the SAD and the BJP. He said SAD will continue to fight polls in alliance with the BJP in future.

READ: ML Khattar becomes Haryana CM for 2nd time, Dushyant Chautala Dy CM

JPP: the kingmaker

Just 10 months old Jannanayak Janta Party, that was formed under the aegis of Dushyant Chautala after family feud in INLD, became the third political force in Haryana's fractured mandate winning 10 seats. As the result came in on Thursday, both the BJP and Congress tried to rope in the new Chautala of Haryana in order to form the next government. There were also reports of Dushyant Chautala demanding Chief Ministerial berth. However, dismissing all speculations, the JJP leader said that it will ally with any party that adheres to the principle of JJP.

READ: Hooda: Sonia Gandhi happy with our performance in Haryana elections

Poll results in Haryana

The final results of the Haryana Assembly Elections witnessed the seemingly invincible BJP winning 40 seats. While the Congress sort of made a comeback winning 31 seats, the newly formed Jannayak Janta Party (JJP) under the leadership of Dushyant Chautala won 10 seats. After the election, Haryana Lokhit Party (HLP) candidate Gopal Kanda, extended his unconditional support to the BJP and claimed that he had the 5 independent MLAs with him. However, the saffron party did not accept his offer after a massive backlash. 

READ: BS Hooda slams Dushyant Chautala's JJP as Khattar becomes Haryana CM