Congress on Tuesday gained simple majority in the Haryana Assembly with an HJC(BL) MLA joining the ruling party. The Congress now has 45 members in the 90-member assembly, which has an effective strength of 89 as one seat is vacant.

"HJC's Samalkha MLA Dharam Singh Chokkar had yesterday sent a communication that he wanted to join the Congress along with four of his party colleagues, but could not reach here on time. His plea was accepted," Haryana Assembly Speaker H S Chatha told reporters here.

The HJC is now left with just one legislator--its party president Kuldeep Bishnoi, the younger son of former chief minister Bhajan Lal-- with four Janhit MLAs having joined the Congress here yesterday after breaking away from their party.

The Speaker said that he had yesterday received a fax message from Chokkar that he was also part of the group of HJC MLAs who wanted to join the Congress.

"I accepted his plea. Chokkar has today joined the Congress, which has accepted him as its member," he said.

The Haryana Assembly, at present has one seat vacant. Former Chief Minister and opposition INLD president Om Prakash Chautala, who had won from two seats, retained Uchana Kalan and vacated the Ellenabad seat.

The Congress had fallen six short of simple majority in the House and got the support of seven independents and lone BSP legislator Akram Khan. Chokkar met Speaker Chatha today at his office in the Haryana Assembly building. He also had a meeting with Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda here.

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