Haryana Cong downplays resignation of Cong MLA

Haryana Congress today sought to downplay the resignation of Balbir Pal Shah, senior Congress leader and five-time MLA from Panipat as legislator, asserting that the state unit is united.
67-year-old Shah, who had among other things alleged bias in development works in his Panipat City constituency, had yesterday submitted his resignation to Speaker Kuldeep Sharma.
Haryana Congress president Phool Chand Mullana today dismissed charges that the Hooda-government was biased in carrying out development works, maintaining that the state had witnessed all-round development under Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda.
He also said the party was united and all leaders will unitedly fight the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.

Earlier talking to PTI, Shah had made it clear that he had not severed ties with the Congress, but fumed that people of Panipat had been betrayed by their own government, which had promised to develop the industrial town on Gurgaon's pattern.
The MLA had refuted reports that his resignation had anything to do with his meeting with senior Congress leader Birender Singh, a known detractor of Hooda.

Shah's resignation, which was yet to be accepted, assumed significance as it came just a fortnight ahead of Congress president Sonia Gandhi's visit to the state on August 20.
The ruling Congress in Haryana has 46 MLAs in the 90-member House and if Shah's resignation is accepted, its number will come down to 45, but it still enjoys the support of seven Independents and a lone BSP member.

The opposition in Assembly include INLD's 30, SAD's 1, BJP's 4 and HJC's 1 members.