Chandigarh, Aug 24 - After intense speculation about their future, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Monday announced that it was snapping its alliance with the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD).
The announcement followed mounting differences between the two parties. They will now contest the coming assembly elections separately.
'We have broken our tie-up with INLD in Haryana and will contest the assembly polls alone. This happened not because of us but because of the rigid approach of INLD over sharing of seats,' said Vijay Goyal, the BJP leader in-charge of the party affairs in Haryana.
Addressing reporters here, he said: 'Our party workers were not happy with the alliance. Many meetings were held to persuade them to increase our share of seats but the INLD refused to budge, resulting in this break-up.'
The development came two days after Haryana Governor Jagannath Pahadia dissolved the assembly following a cabinet recommendation. The term of the present assembly and the government would have ended in March 2010.
Fresh elections are likely in October along with the Maharashtra polls.
Goyal said the BJP would contest from 'maximum number of seats' in Haryana.