Two INLD legislators join BJP in Haryana

In another setback to the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) in Haryana, two of its sitting legislators joined the ruling BJP on Tuesday.

Nuh legislator Zakir Hussain and Julana's Parminder Singh Dhull joined the saffron party at a function here where Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and state party chief Subhash Barala were present.

Both Hussain and Dhull have resigned from the assembly too.

The INLD, led by former Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala, has seen several desertions, since Dushyant Chautala in December last formed the Jannayak Janata Party (JJP) after infighting in the Chautala family led to a split in the party.

The INLD had won 19 seats in the 90-member Assembly in the 2014 state polls but two of its legislators had died subsequently and nine deserted to join the BJP, the JJP or the Congress.

Four legislators supporting the JJP have neither resigned from the party nor from the Assembly.

With the latest desertion, the INLD's strength in the Assembly will come down to eight.IANS