Gobind Kanda’s second attack on local BJP leaders in a week

As the municipal elections draw closer, internal conflicts within the BJP and its ally, Haryana Lokhit Party (HLP), are becoming more apparent. BJP leader Gobind Kanda, younger brother of HLP chief and former minister Gopal Kanda, has once again targeted local BJP leaders, accusing them of weakening the party from within.

Kanda expressed his frustration over the candidate selection process for the upcoming Municipal Council elections. He claimed that senior BJP leaders decide everything, while local leaders in Sirsa have little say in party matters.

“The so-called BJP loyalists here were never truly with the party. Whether it was my Ellenabad election or any other poll in Sirsa, their actions speak for themselves. They stay in the BJP only to damage it from within,” Kanda alleged.

This is the second time in a week that Gobind Kanda has criticised BJP’s local leadership. Just a few days ago, he had accused former Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar’s political secretary, Jagdish Chopra, and his son Aman Chopra of betraying the party. According to him, their influence has stopped capable leaders from joining the BJP.

Gobind Kanda, who joined the BJP in 2021, had contested the Ellenabad byelection against INLD leader Abhay Chautala. Although he gave a tough fight, he lost by 6,739 votes. In that election, Chautala secured 65,798 votes, while Kanda got 59,189 votes.

Meanwhile, BJP leader Aman Chopra responded to Gobind Kanda's accusations by talking to The Tribune that the BJP was ready to fight the MC election from here. He mentioned that the local leadership and workers of the BJP had expressed to the high command that they wanted to contest the election using the party's symbol, the lotus, and did not wish to form any alliances with anyone. He added that whatever the party decided, everyone would accept it. Aman said the more mud someone threw, the bigger the lotus would bloom.

Regarding Gobind Kanda's accusations, he pointed out that although Kanda was in the BJP, he campaigned against BJP candidate Nitasha Sihag in the District Council elections and fielded his own candidate. He also said if the HLP considered itself an ally of the NDA, they should now honour that alliance. Aman reminded that during the Assembly elections, Gopal Kanda had said that he didn’t need the BJP’s support since he had the backing of the INLD and the BSP. So, he questioned why Gobind Kanda was making such statements now. Aman concluded by saying that the public understood everything.

With growing tensions between the BJP and HLP leaders, the upcoming elections in Sirsa are expected to be competitive. Political observers believe that such internal conflicts could impact the BJP’s performance in the region.