BJP, HLP will fight Assembly elections jointly, says CM Saini

Anil Kakkar

Sirsa, July 31
Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Wednesday said the BJP and Gopal Kanda’s Haryana Lokhit Party (HLP) will contest collectively in the upcoming assembly elections and win all seats in Sirsa.
On his second visit to Sirsa in the past 10 days, the CM handed over documents related to 77 acres and 7 marlas of land to a gurdwara and participated in a programme organised by the Kamboj community’s largest sect, Baba Bhuman Shah.
The CM announced a contribution of Rs 51 lakh for the construction of Kamboj dharamshalas at Sirsa, Karnal, Radaur, Bhuna, Kurukshetra, Ratia, and Jagadhri.
On Wednesday, CM Saini first stopped at the residence of HLP supremo and MLA Gopal Kanda. On being asked about the alliance with the HLP, the CM said they would contest the election collectively and win all five seats in Sirsa district. HLP is part of the NDA and Kanda recently met Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, requesting 15 seats as part of the alliance. Although the BJP’s top leadership has not revealed their plans, CM Saini’s statement hints at a possible coalition. Notably, Gopal Kanda’s brother and BJP leader Gobind Kanda are keen to contest the Vidhan Sabha elections from Fatehabad.
Criticising the Congress, he said the party had been exposed and rejected by the people. He stressed transparency in work in the BJP’s rule had strengthened people’s trust in the party.
The Chief Minister also visited Gurdwara Sri Chilla Sahib and presented the registration papers for 77 kanals and 7 marlas to gurdwara management. The Sikh congregation honoured him with a turban and siropa. An akhand path was also held at the gurdwara.
CM Saini then visited Dera Baba Bhuman Shah at Sangar Sarista village to pay tribute to Shaheed Udham Singh and participated in the 84th National Shaheedi Mahasammelan as the chief guest.
On July 21, he attended a programme at Radha Soami Satsang Bhavan in Sikanderpur village and participated in the “A Tree in Mother’s Name” campaign as the chief guest. He also visited Sirsa 28 days ago for a workers’ conference at Chaudhary Devi Lal University.

Focus on Punjabi belt voters

• The BJP is eyeing voters in Sirsa who have drifted away from the INLD and JJP.
  These voters leaned towards the Congress in the recent Lok Sabha elections
• The BJP did not win a single seat in Sirsa in 2019, making it a crucial district with four Assembly seats — Dabwali, Rania, Kalanwali and Sirsa — three of which have a significant number of Punjabi voters