Dushyant Chautala emerges as gamechanger in Haryana

As leads for the Haryana polls threw up the prospect of a hung Assembly, Dushyant Chautala's JJP has emerged as the possible key to forming the government. Reports suggest Congress has already reached out to Chautala, even as the BJP is keeping a close watch.

Chandigarh:Dushyant Chautala's Jannayak Janta Party (JJP) is set to play the role of kingmaker as Haryana heads towards a hung assembly. Chautala's party is currently leading in 11 assembly seats, and Congress made inroads, leading to a scenario where BJP appears to be falling short of the required majority.

As JPP emerged the front runners ahead of its regional rivals, Dushyant Chautala has already made his ambitions for the chief ministerial post very clear.

The Congress has already reached out to the JJP trying to stitch an alliance. But reports suggest that Chautala has not given any assurances. The Congress is likely to opt for 'Karnataka model' offering JPP the CM's chair.

Meanwhile, BJP has a powerful presence at the centre which might tilt the Chautala's decision in saffron party's favour. It remains to be seen how the dynamics work out as both Congress and BJP are likely to make an offer to JPP, which was formed less than a year ago.

Emergence of Jannayak Janata party: Dushyant and his uncle Abhay Chautala developed serious differences after Ajay Singh Chautala (Dushyant's father and Abhay's elder brother) was sent to jail in connection with junior teachers recruitment scam along with his father and former chief minister Om Prakash Chautala.

The seed for dissidence was sown last year when Om Prakash Chautala threw out his grandson Dushyant and Digvijay from the party. After some time Ajay Singh Chautala was shown the door from the party. Four sitting MLAs of the INLD came along with Dushyant and Jannayak Janata Party was born.

When Dushyant became first time MP from Hissar, he became the youngest member of Parliament to be ever elected at the age of 26. He defeated Kuldeep Bishnoi, son of former chief minister Bhajanlal.

Dushyant, his brother Digvijay Singh and mother Naina Chautala led the charge against the Khattar government and the Congress, while he contained INLD, which shared same vote bank among the farming jat community.

Dushyant has won from Uchana, where he defeated Prem Lata, wife of former cabinet minister, Chaudhary Birendra Singh, who joined BJP and became a minister in Modi's cabinet in 2014.With a strong Jat support, a popular leader and a deep regional presence, JPP is likely to step up the bargain in the coming days.

Read: Haryana Assembly Election Results LIVE: State heads for hung assembly