INLD legislators Parminder Singh Dhull and Zakir Hussain join BJP in Haryana, Khattar also present

In what could be another big blow to former Haryana chief minister Om Prakash Chautala's Indian National Lok Dal (INLD), party legislators Parminder Singh Dhull and Zakir Hussain on Tuesday joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Chandigarh. Besides, Jannayak Janata Party (JJP) Rohtak president Dharampal Singh Makroli also shifted loyalty to the ruling BJP. The trio was inducted into the Saffron fold in presence of Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar.

"Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and Pradesh president Subhash Barala today inducted INLD Julana MLA Parminder Singh Dhullji, Nunh MLA Zakirji and District Council Chairman Rohtak and current JJP District President Dharampal Makrawoli into the BJP," the Haryana BJP wrote on its official Twitter handle.

प्रदेश के यशस्वी मुख्यमंत्री @mlkhattar जी एवं प्रदेश अध्यक्ष श्री @subhashbrala जी ने आज जुलाना विधायक परमिंदर सिंह ढुल जी, नूंह विधायक जाकिर जी पूर्व जिला परिषद चेयरमैन रोहतक एवं वर्तमान जेजेपी जिलाध्यक्ष धर्मपाल मकड़ौली जी को पटका पहना कर भाजपा में शामिल किया। pic.twitter.com/kwZfmco8AO

— Haryana BJP (@BJP4Haryana) June 25, 2019

READ | Abhay Chautala removed as Leader of Opposition after INLD's strength falls in Haryana Assembly

The Chautala-led INLD has been hit by a series of desertions ever since the party witnessed a vertical split last year owing to feud in the Chautala family. The Jannayak Janata Party (JJP) was formed by Dushyant Chautala, the grandson of Om Prakash Chautala. Over 10 INLD legislators have deserted the party in recent months and joined BJP, JJP and the Congress.

A few months ago, Daulatpuria had filed a petition before the Assembly Speaker seeking disqualification of four INLD MLAs, including Naina Chautala, who had joined the Jannayak Janata Party (JJP) without resigning from the INLD.

In the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections, the INLD received a severe drubbing and its candidates on all the 10 seats in Haryana lost security deposits.

READ | In Haryana, mothers, wives and daughters-in-law hit the campaign trail

Assembly elections are due to be held in Haryana in October 2019 to elect 90 members of the Haryana Legislative Assembly. The term of current assembly elected in 2014 will expire on November 2, 2019.