By IANS,
Chandigarh : Seeking early polls, the Congress government in Haryana led by Bhupinder Singh Hooda Friday recommended the dissolution of the state assembly nearly six months before the expiry of its term.
Government sources said the decision was taken at a cabinet meeting held here under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Hooda.
The cabinet’s recommendation has been sent to Haryana Governor Jagannath Pahadia.
Elections to the 90-member assembly are likely to be held in October along with assembly polls in Maharashtra.
The term of the present assembly and the government was to end in March 2010.
The ruling Congress in the state emerged confident to seek early polls after winning nine out of 10 Lok Sabha seats in the April-May general elections.
Looking confident, Hooda told reporters after the meeting: “The cabinet has unanimously recommended immediate dissolution of the assembly to the Haryana governor. We have done it because it was the wish of the people and also of the opposition (in Haryana).”
Taking a dig at the leader of the opposition, Hooda added “it was also due to the love of Om Prakash Chautala”, president of the state’s main oppositon Indian National Lok Dal (INLD).
The general elections saw the Congress leading in nearly 60 assembly segments. INLD led in only seven segments while its alliance partner, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), led in seven others.
The Congress has 62 legislators, excluding the assembly speaker, in the current assembly. Six seats in the assembly are vacant presently due to resignations. One minister, Kartar Devi of the Congress, died last week following prolonged illness.
The INLD has eight legislators in the outgoing house while there are 10 independents.