As ED knock ‘surprises’ Gopal Kanda, aides say ‘nothing decided on joining BJP’

ED raided his premises in Gurgaon, Delhi, Hisar Wednesday; Kanda's formal induction into BJP has been expected since he was acquitted on July 25

After the raids, people close to Kanda said nothing was decided yet on “if he would join the BJP”. “He is a capable leader and immensely popular in Sirsa, and will not take it lying down.” (File)

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Ever since Sirsa MLA Gopal Singh Kanda was acquitted in an abetment of suicide case a fortnight ago, all the talk has been about when he would get a formal invite to join the BJP. In a development surprising Haryana political circles and, aides say, Kanda himself, it was the Enforcement Directorate (ED) that landed on the MLA’s doorstep on Wednesday.

The ED raided premises linked to the lone Haryana Lokhit Party MLA in Gurgaon, Delhi and Hisar. Among the richest politicians in Haryana, Kanda declared assets of Rs 95 crore in his election affidavit filed in 2019.

After the 2019 Assembly results, Sirsa BJP MP Sunita Duggal had taken Kanda on a chartered flight to New Delhi as the BJP tried to rustle up a majority. Finally, the road block in Kanda’s formal induction was the 11-year-old sensational case against him over the suicide by a former employee of his.

After the raids, people close to Kanda said nothing was decided yet on “if he would join the BJP”. “He is a capable leader and immensely popular in Sirsa, and will not take it lying down.”

While Kanda was not available for comment, his aides said the ED raids came as a “surprise” to him. Among the premises raided was the office of his erstwhile airlines MDLR in Delhi. Sources disclosed that ED officials were accompanied by officials of the Income Tax Department.

While the ED did not release any statement regarding the raids, these are believed to have been carried out under the provisions of Prevention of Money Laundering Act.

Also read | Why Gopal Kanda was acquitted in abetment to suicide case

In Haryana’s 90-member House, the BJP has 41 MLAs, the Congress has 30, the Jannayak Janata Party (JJP) 10, apart from seven Independents and one MLA each from the Indian National Lok Dal (Abhay Chautala) and Haryana Lokhit Party.

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After the JJP offered its support to the BJP in 2019, the BJP did not need Kanda’s support, but he offered the same and continues to back the Manohar Lal Khattar government.

After he was acquitted by a court on July 25, one of Kanda’s first steps was a visit to Khattar. The meeting further fuelled speculation that Kanda, who holds significant influence in Sirsa area, would get a place in the BJP, making the ruling party less dependent on its ally, the Dushyant Chautala-led JJP.

In 2021, Kanda’s brother Govind Kanda contested the Ellenabad bypoll on a BJP ticket. He, however, lost to Abhay Chautala, whose resignation from his seat against the three farm legislation had necessitated the bypoll.

In June, the Kanda brothers played a crucial role in ensuring the success of Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s rally in Sirsa. Govind was present on the stage with other BJP leaders.

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The BJP is the third political party to which Kanda has pledged allegiance. He was considered a close aide of INLD supremo Om Prakash Chautala and his sons Abhay and Ajay Chautala, but later switched sides to Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda and helped the Congress form the government in 2009 by rallying some Independent legislators. Kanda was then rewarded with a Minister of State (Home) berth in the Hooda government.

He was made to resign after his arrest in the suicide case, and in 2014, withdrew support to the Congress.