In the year 2012, there was a Congress government at the Center and Haryana. At that time, senior BJP leaders were protesting against a Haryana minister in Delhi. These leaders were holding a banner that read Arrest Gopal Kanda and Justice for Geetika Sharma. The wheel of time turns after 12 years. BJP has government in Center and Haryana and BJP has announced alliance with Gopal Kanda before elections in Haryana.
This announcement has been made by Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini himself in Sirsa. After Saini’s announcement, questions are being raised from Haryana to Delhi that what happened that BJP needed to take Kanda along?
Why was Gopal Kanda needed?
Sirsa Lok Sabha has a total of 9 assembly constituencies (Narwana, Sirsa Sadar, Allenabad, Raina, Dawabli, Kalanavali, Ratia, Fatehabad and Tohna). In 2019, BJP won 2 seats, Congress won 2 seats, JJP won 2 seats, INLD-LHP won 1 seat each and Independent won one seat.
Sirsa’s equation has changed in 2024. This time Congress has got lead in all 9 seats. Sirsa is considered to be the stronghold of Kumari Shaileja. Shaileja is also a contender for the post of chief minister in Haryana. This is the reason why BJP has roped in Gopal Kanda to help Sirsa.
Kanda is currently MLA from Sirsa assembly seat. In the last election, BJP was third in Sirsa seat. All other seats in the district are also dominated by Kanda. In 2019, Gopal Kanda’s brother Govind Kanda contested from the Raina seat. Govind was second in Raina.
Kanda’s party also has influence in Allenabad and Kalanvali seats. According to the Election Commission, Kanda’s party got more than 1 percent of the votes in 2014.
The recent Lok Sabha elections in Haryana saw a very close fight between the BJP and the Bharatiya Janata Party. The India Alliance has got a lead in 46 seats in the assembly, while the BJP has got a lead in 44 seats. It is being said that the party wants to move by the wrist in such equations.
Now the story of Gopal Kanda
Born in Sirsa, Gopal Kanda ran a shoe showroom before joining politics. Before joining politics, he came in contact with former CM Bansilal’s late son Surendra Singh. Kanda is said to have entered the world of real estate with Surendra.
When Om Prakash Chautala’s government came to power, Kanda left Surendra and joined the INLD. Kanda’s fortunes improved in the 2009 elections. Not getting a ticket from the INLD, Kanda filed as an independent candidate.
He also won the election on the basis of area contacts and equations. Meanwhile, a big game happened in Haryana. No party got majority. Congress’s Bhupinder Singh Hooda started courting independents. Kanda agreed to support, but on the condition of taking the home portfolio.
Eager to form a government, Hooda made him the Minister of State for Home Affairs of Haryana. After this, Kanda’s world turned upside down. However, this eloquence did not last long. After being named in the 2012 murder of air hostess Geetika Sharma, Kanda first had to leave the chair and then went to jail.
This was followed by bad days for Kanda which continued till 2019. Kanda won the election again in 2019. Kanda was also acquitted in the Geetika Sharma case 2 years ago.
