Haryana: BJP's Sirsa Candidate Rohtash Jangra Takes Nomination Back; Party Likely To Support Gopal Kanda

BJP's Sirsa candidate Rohtash Jangra announced on Monday, September 16, that he has withdrawn his nomination for the seat. This move suggests that the party may support Haryana Lokhit Party chief Gopal Kanda. Kanda, a sitting MLA from Sirsa, had previously extended his support to the BJP government.

"I have withdrawn my nomination. The decision has been taken in the interest of the state and the country...we have to ensure a 'Congress Mukt Haryana'," Jangra told PTI over the phone.

Gopal Kanda's Background

Gopal Kanda, aged 57, is the leader of the Haryana Lokhit Party and a current MLA from Sirsa. He founded his party and has served as Haryana's Home, Industries, and Urban Local Bodies Minister. Recently, he was acquitted by a Delhi court in a high-profile case involving an air hostess's suicide.

In the last election, Kanda narrowly won the Sirsa Assembly seat by defeating independent candidate Gokul Setia by just 602 votes. His political influence in Sirsa remains significant.

Political Alliances and Support

The Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) announced on Thursday that it would support Kanda in Sirsa. The INLD is contesting the assembly polls in alliance with the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP). This alliance could impact the election dynamics in Sirsa significantly.

The BJP will now contest 89 of the 90 Assembly seats in Haryana, similar to Congress. The Congress has left one seat, Bhiwani, for CPI(M). Last week, BJP released its final list of candidates for Haryana polls, initially fielding Jangra from Sirsa before his withdrawal.

Upcoming Elections

Polling for Haryana's 90 Assembly seats is scheduled for October 5, with vote counting set for October 8. The ruling BJP aims for a third consecutive win but faces strong competition from a resurgent Congress leveraging anti-incumbency sentiments.

Jangra confirmed that their decision was influenced by Kanda's consistent support over five years. "Gopal Kanda has supported us (BJP) for five years. We have taken this decision for Sirsa's development," he said.

The political landscape in Haryana is heating up as parties form alliances and strategize ahead of the elections. Both major parties are vying for dominance in what promises to be a closely contested battle.