The numbers were with the BJP—40 seats, six shy of a simple majority. Plus, unconditional support of seven independent legislators, including Dushyant’s estranged granduncle Ranjit Chautala. The Congress—31 seats— would fall short even with the JJP’s support. With an assurance of being made deputy CM and a common minimum programme that would accommodate the JJP’s main promises on its manifesto, Dushyant sided with the BJP. Sources say his closeness to junior Union finance minister Anurag Thakur—the two are neighbours in Lutyen’s Delhi—helped in the talks with the BJP.
For Dushyant, the meteoric rise from a BSc student at California State University with an avid interest in sports (boxing and basketball) a decade ago to a debutante Lok Sabha member in 2014 and a deputy CM now hasn’t been one that dynasts from political families usually take for granted.
This story is from the November 11, 2019 edition of Outlook.
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This story is from the November 11, 2019 edition of Outlook.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
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