BJP’s Sirsa candidate withdraws from fray after Kanda says he will support party govt

Monday was the last day for withdrawal of nominations for the October 5 Assembly polls. Jangra told reporters in Sirsa that he is out of fray. I have withdrawn my nomination from Sirsa seat. I am a committed worker of BJP. The decision to nominate me was taken by the party and today I was asked to withdraw it,” said Jangra, adding that Kanda had supported BJP for five years.

Asked if it means that the BJP will support Kanda in Sirsa, Jangra said, “I cannot say anything. It is for the party high command to say. It is our [BJP’s] goal to ensure a Congress Mukt Haryana”.

Jangra said he has been associated with the BJP for more than four decades and had fought the Zila Parishad polls in 1994.

Senior BJP leader and former MP Ashok Tanwar, who accompanied Jangra, too said that the “decision was taken to ensure Congress’ defeat”.

“There is only one aim — to form a BJP government for the third time and to have a Congress-mukt Bharat and Congress-mukt Sirsa,” said Tanwar who unsuccessfully contested this year’s Lok Sabha polls from Sirsa.

On Congress’ allegations that the BJP has “surrendered” before Kanda, Tanwar said, that the opposition party had surrendered before foreign powers. “Those who have accepted defeat can say anything..On foreign soil, they give statements to weaken the country,” said Tanwar.

Party’s state unit chief Mohan Lal Badoli remained evasive while only confirming that “yes, our candidate has withdrawn nomination in Sirsa”.

The BJP, like the Congress, will now be contesting 89 seats in the state. The Congress has left the Bhiwani seat for CPI(M).

INLD’s Abhay Chautala said he would hold discussions with his party leaders to decide whether to continue supporting Kanda.

“If BJP has supported Kanda or vice-versa, I will discuss it with my party. BJP candidate must have withdrawn nomination, but it remains to be seen if Kanda has accepted BJP’s support. I will speak to Kanda and then take a final decision,” said Abhay Chautala.

On Kanda’s statement that “HLP, INLD and BSP will support the BJP”, Abhay Chautala said, “How can Kanda speak for us? It is INLD and BSP who supported Kanda. The decision of whom to support in future shall be taken by the INLD and BSP”.

In Sirsa, Congress has fielded Gokul Setia, while AAP has nominated Shyam Sunder and the JJP has fielded Pawan Sherpura.

Kanda’s brother Govind Kanda had filed his nomination papers from Fatehabad but withdrew it last