New Delhi

The Jannayak Janta Party (JJP) led by Dushyant Chautala and Chandra Shekhar Azad’s Azad Samaj Party (Kanshi Ram) announced a pre-poll alliance for the upcoming Haryana Assembly elections on Tuesday. In this alliance, JJP will contest 70 out of the 90 seats, while the Azad Samaj Party will compete for the remaining seats. Both leaders pledged to focus on farmers’ rights and aim to establish a government of the youth.

The alliance comes amid a turbulent political landscape for the JJP. Recently, four of its legislators resigned from party positions, leaving only three JJP legislators remaining. The JJP has faced significant defections, with six out of ten MLAs departing the party, citing personal reasons.

Former Home Minister Anil Vij of the BJP has predicted a BJP victory in the upcoming elections, arguing that the regional parties are no longer a major challenge and that the real competition is with Congress.

The JJP’s formation in 2018, a split from the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD), marked a significant shift in Haryana politics, traditionally dominated by Jat leaders. This election cycle, the BJP is aiming for a third consecutive term, while Congress, under Bhupinder Singh Hooda, is emerging as a formidable competitor. The election is set for October 1, with results to be announced on October 4.