Haryana cabinet recommends dissolution of state assembly

CHANDIGARH: The Haryana cabinet has recommended dissolution of the 90-member state Assembly, seven months ahead of the completion of its term, paving the way for early polls in the state.

The cabinet, which met under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda here, unanimously recommended to Governor Jagan Nath Pahadia to dissolve the house with immediate effect.

The meeting of the cabinet, which was postponed earlier on August 17 following death of state Health Minister Kartar Devi, favored elections in October along with other states, including Maharashtra, officials said.

Ever since Congress's good performance in the Lok Sabha polls, in which it retained nine out of ten seats, the party has been in an upbeat mood and was keen to capitalize on the overwhelming support it got from the people.

Though the state assembly polls were due in February next year, Hooda looked keen to capitalize on a "weak opposition" with the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD-BJP) having received a drubbing in the Lok Sabha polls and newly-floated Haryana Janhit Congress (BL)-BSP alliance still looking to gain a foothold.

The present Assembly was constituted on March 20, 2005.

The strength of Congress members in the present assembly was 64 while eight MLAs were from INLD, one each from BJP, BSP and NCP and ten independents. Five seats are vacant.

-PTI