Kanda’s claim on support to INLD stirs row

Former MLA Gopal Kanda’s recent remarks have triggered fresh political tension in Haryana. Responding to INLD leader Abhay Chautala’s earlier statement, calling his alliance with Kanda in the last Assembly elections a “mistake”, Kanda countered sharply, saying, “The public knows who made the mistake.”

Speaking to the media in Sirsa, Kanda claimed that if a senior Central BJP leader had not personally requested, he and his brother Gobind Kanda would not have supported the INLD in Rania. “A senior BJP leader asked us to help the INLD win the seat so it would not go to the Congress. Only on his request, we supported the INLD," Kanda claimed.

The statement, which quickly spread on social media, reignited the debate on past political alliances and motives.

Reacting strongly, INLD national president Abhay Singh Chautala dismissed Kanda’s remarks. Speaking to ‘The Tribune’, he said, “Everyone knows what Gopal Kanda is. I don’t need to explain. He has no ideology, he is an opportunist. He was with us once, then with the Congress, and now wants to align with the BJP.” He also alleged that the Congress and the BJP were working together to mislead the public.

Meanwhile, Congress MP Deepender Singh Hooda called Kanda’s statement an exposure of a long-hidden alliance. “This proves the secret understanding between the BJP and the INLD. They worked together in Rania, Dabwali, and Ellenabad, while pretending to be rivals. Their backdoor deals have betrayed every section of society,” he stated.

Of the five Assembly seats in Sirsa district, the Congress holds three and the INLD two. Arjun Chautala, son of Abhay Chautala, is the MLA from Rania, and Aditya Chautala represents Dabwali.

Haryana Tribune