The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Jannayak JanataParty (JJP) on Friday made an announcement sealing the deal for the formationof government in Haryana. The announcement was made by Home Minister Amit Shahin the presence of JJP chief Dushyant Chautala, Haryana Chief Minister ManoharLal Khattar and Union Minister of State for Finance Anurag Thakur. Dushyant hasemerged as the kingmaker in Haryana after his party won 10 seats in the state.

Addressing the media late in the evening, Shah said that boththe BJP and JJP have decided that they will form the government together inHaryana as they have accepted the mandate by the people of the state. Heasserted that the chief minister will be from the BJP and deputy chief ministerwill be from the regional party. A meeting was held at the residence of Shahfollowing which the decision was announced. Chautala had first reached theresidence of Thakur and the leaders had a brief discussion before they left forAmit Shah`s residence.

Accepting the mandate by the people of Haryana, leaders ofboth parties (BJP-JJP) have decided that BJP-JJP will form the govt together,in Haryana. CM will be from BJP & Deputy CM will be from JJP," saidShah. The leaders of both the parties will meet the Governor on Saturday andstake their claim to form the government in the state. "We will meet theGovernor tomorrow in Chandigarh to stake the claim to form the govt in thestate," said Manohar Lal Khattar.

On his part, Dushyant Chautala said that his party hasdecided to support the BJP "for the stability of the government inHaryana". It is likely that Dushyant Chautala will be the new deputy chiefminister of Haryana.

"To give a stable government to Haryana it wasimportant for BJP and JJP to come together. I would like to thank Amit Shah andJP Nadda. Our party had decided that for the betterment of the state it isimportant to have a stable government," said Chautala.

Earlier in a press conference, Chautala had said that hisparty was open to supporting any party which supports some of their demandsincluding 75 per cent reservation in government jobs for natives of Haryanaunder a common minimum programme (CMP). "In the legislative party meettoday, a resolution was passed that I be the leader of the legislative party.We will ally with whichever political party agrees to our common minimumprogram. The JJP will support the party which respect our policies,"Dushyant had said. He had added that his party has kept its doors open for bothBJP and Congress and said his MLAs will take the call on extending the support."Neither BJP nor Congress is untouchable for JJP," he had said,adding that the party will be a part of the government and not give outsidesupport.

The Chautala clan is making a comeback to power after 15years when the JJP leader`s grandfather Om Prakash Chautala was defeated by theCongress in the 2004 elections.

The BJP won 40 seats in the Assembly elections, held onOctober 21, seven down from its 2014 total and six short of a simple majorityin the 90-member house. The BJP has got the support of independents also. TheJJP, which is less than a year old, won 10 seats. Congress won 31 seats in thestate.