Politics

To survive Haryana, BJP wants support of Gopal Kanda-the rape accused MLA the party once opposed

After alleging, accusing and wanting him behind bars, BJP shoulders with Gopal Kanda to sustain in Haryana

Chandigarh| After losing the 2014 election poorly Gopal Kanda again sprung back in 2019 Haryana Assembly polls election that took place on 21 October. Kanda won the Assembly election as an Independent candidate from his home constituency Sirsa, Haryana.

BJP after failing to win a majority is seeking Independent contestants. Kanda was amongst the eight independents BJP is looking for. Gopal Kanda, the chief of the Haryana Lokhit Party, was reportedly among the MLAs flown to Delhi for a meeting with the BJP leadership last evening by a BJP MP, Sunita Duggal.

Before he took the flight from the Indian Air Force (IAF) station in Haryana, Kanda answered the reporters that he would support the party that would work for the development of Sirsa.

Who is Gopal Kanda?

Gopal Kanda was the minister in the then Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda’s cabinet. He resigned after he was accused of abetting the suicide of an air hostess who worked for his aviation company in 2012.

Kanda’s rise as a politician has been incredible from a time when he stepped in debt because of a failed shoe business. He rebuilt his fortune after venturing into the real estate business in 1998. In 2007, the centre asked the Haryana government to investigate him after he was caught in his car with four wanted criminals.

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Kanda was associated with the Indian National Lok Dal when he decided to contest the Haryana election in 2009. When the INLD did not field him, he contested as an independent candidate and won. With the Hooda led Congress falling short of a majority, he had enough leverage to become a minister.

The case of Geetika Sharma:

Kanda owns Airline MDLR. In 2012, Kanda was arrested after one of his employees, Geetika Sharma, left suicide notes accusing him of harassment. At the time, the BJP held protests against him, demanding his resignation as minister and his arrest. Geetika’s mother also committed suicide later.

He was also jailed in the case. He was let off on bail in 2014. The same year, he contested the Haryana polls and lost. In 2016, Kanda and his brother Govind were charged for alleged illegal property development in Sirsa.

The BJP, with 40 assembly seats, is six short of a majority in Haryana. With the support of Kanda and seven other independents, it is expected to make up the shortfall easily.

Kanda, who won from the Sirsa assembly seat by a margin of 602 votes, met with BJP working president JP Nadda till late on Thursday in Delhi.

 

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