'People will beat us with stick' JJP MLA urges party to withdraw support to BJP in Haryana

Aday before the Haryana assembly takes up the Congress' no-confidence motion against the Manohar Lal Khattar government, senior Jananayak Janata Party (JJP) MLA Devender Singh Babli has urged his party to withdraw support to the BJP government over farmers' issues.

Devender Babli said the situation in rural Haryana is such that people won't let MLAs to enter their villages.

"The situation is such that we (JJP) should now leave the government because people are unhappy with us. People don't let us enter their villages. I urge the chief minister and deputy chief minister to hold events in villages...or any other MLA to do it...people will beat us with sticks. We will need to get iron armour and helmets to protect ourselves," Devender Singh Babli said.

His comments come hours the JJP issued a whip to its MLAs to remain present in the House tomorrow and "support the stand of the government against the no-confidence motion".

Babli said the party is "compelling" its MLAs to vote in BJP's support by issuing a whip.

The BJP and Congress have also issued whips to their MLAs.

The Congress is bringing the no-confidence motion against the Khattar government over the ongoing farmers' protest in the state.

To win the no-confidence motion, the Congress would need at least 45 votes. However, the BJP has claimed it has support of 55 MLAs.

Based on the current party strength in the House and coalition in the state, the Khattar government is in a comfortable position. However, the ongoing farmers' protest has put immense pressure on JJP MLAs and Independents to vote against the BJP. Some JJP MLAs extending support to the farmers' protests is also cause of worry for the BJP.

The Haryana assembly has a total of 90 members but presently there are only 88 MLAs, including the Speaker.

The Congress has 30 MLAs, the BJP has 40 MLAs, while the JJP has 10 MLAs. There are five Independent MLAs who are supporting the BJP-led government while two Independents have withdrawn their support.