Dushyant Chautala, president of the Jannayak Janta Party (JJP), has ruled out any reconciliation with the BJP before Haryana’s assembly elections. However, he is open to exploring an alliance with the Congress.

In a recent interview, Chautala, grandson of seasoned INLD leader OP Chautala, firmly stated that he will not return to the NDA, citing a lack of respect from the BJP. “I can, on record, assure you that I won’t go with BJP again,” Chautala declared.

Chautala expressed frustration with the BJP, revealing that despite his party’s support, the BJP failed to reciprocate during seat-sharing negotiations for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

“I was in the NDA for 4.5 years. No one has supported them as much as me. From the wrestlers’ issue to the farmers’ issue, my stand always aligned with theirs. But I didn’t get any respect … if they could not agree to a seat-sharing arrangement … then it means … there was no respect [for me],” he said.

When asked about the possibility of joining the opposition INDIA bloc, Chautala said, “Let’s see … if we have the numbers. And yes, if our party is considered a priority, then why not?”

Chautala dismissed claims that JJP’s exit would benefit the NDA by splitting the Jat vote in Haryana. “I don’t think that way … if Jat vote was the only determining factor in Haryana than Chaudhary Devi Lal ji would not have formed an alliance with Mangal Sen during Jan Sangh days. Bansi Lal would not have formed an alliance with BJP. Chautala sahab wouldn’t have formed an alliance with BJP in the 1990s. The Congress came to power in 2004 on Bhajan Lal’s name, despite that they had to seek the support of Independent MLAs to form a government,” he said.

He said that there is no community in Haryana that accounts for 50% of the total votes, including the Jats and argued that the Jat community, which constitutes about 22% of the electorate, is influential but not dominant enough to dictate the election outcome.

Chautala’s party, a splinter group from INLD, won 10 of the 90 seats in the 2019 Haryana assembly elections and formed a post-poll alliance with BJP, helping the BJP form a government in the state. Chautala served as the deputy chief minister. However, discord over seat-sharing for the Lok Sabha elections led to Chautala’s departure from the NDA earlier this year.

Assembly elections in Haryana are scheduled for October 1.